Frustrated Calvin de Haan has plenty to say about ‘f—-d’ Rangers tenure, just not yet
Calvin de Haan is pissed. And now that this miserable New York Rangers season is just about over, the veteran defenseman is apparently ready to unleash his simmering anger.
Just not quite yet.
Beat writers Mollie Walker (New York Post) and Peter Baugh (The Athletic) each reported that de Haan had a few choice words about his situation with the Rangers on his way to the ice for an optional practice in South Florida on Sunday.
The 13-year NHL veteran reportedly said that it’s “f—-d” how the Rangers have treated him since he was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1, as part of the Ryan Lindgren trade. He also reportedly said “just wasting time,” perhaps about taking part in practice after being a healthy scratch for 18 straight games.
De Haan told the reporters he’d speak with them after practice. However, after speaking to a member of the Rangers public relations staff, he begged off and said he’d speak another day, likely on breakup day later in the week.
Because his initial comments were posted on social media, de Haan posted a lengthy statement on X (formerly Twitter) to explain himself.
“I’m not trying to be the villain or gain attention or throw shade on the organization, I would have preferred a scrum setting to chat about how my time with the Rangers has gone,” de Haan stated in part. “As a player you have to respect the lineup decisions whether you like them or not, it’s just been frustrating not being able to compete and do what I love to do. I hope everyone understands.”
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It seems that de Haan held his tongue until the Rangers were officially eliminated from playoff contention, which they were Saturday following a 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 33-year-old played three games in a row after the trade, and the Rangers snagged five of six points (2-0-1). He hasn’t played since, after Carson Soucy was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in a pre-deadline trade. The Rangers are 6-10-2 in the past 18 games without de Haan in the lineup.
Soucy, Urho Vaakanainen and Zac Jones each have received playing time instead of de Haan, who had one assist and was plus-4 in the three games he played with the Rangers. He had seven assists and was minus-8 in 44 games earlier this season with the Avalanche.
“Did I help win those games I played, maybe? Maybe not? But we still won and collected some crucial points to climb the standings,” de Haan said in his statement. “I understand the youth movement in the NHL, and I’m getting older in hockey years and I may not play every single night. I feel like I can still contribute and help teams win. I know I’m not going to play 20 minutes a night in the role I’ve been in the past few years, but again I feel like I can still keep up and help a team in certain facets of the game.”
Maybe the final straw for de Haan was that the Rangers recalled defenseman Matthew Robertson from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Sunday and coach Peter Laviolette said the 24-year-old will make his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers on Monday.
Braden Schneider won’t play the final two games of the season because of an upper-body injury. The Rangers were carrying two extra defensemen before electing to sit Schneider, but added Robertson to give him an opportunity with nothing on the line for the Blueshirts.
De Haan is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Since he is not part of New York’s future, it makes sense to get a look at Robertson instead.
The Rangers close out the season Thursday at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning. So, de Haan should have the chance to get things off his chest either Friday or Saturday.
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