New York Islanders defenseman Calvin de Haan has been waiting awhile to get his chance to prove he can stick in the NHL. He was their second first-round pick in 2009 as some guy named John Tavares went first overall that year.
Now that he’s gotten called up and played against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, he’d like to seize the opportunity as Arthur Staple of Newsday shares.
“I like to think I’m a realist, so I think [staying in Bridgeport this season] was the plan,” de Haan said Saturday morning. “But I’m here and I want to make the most of it.”
De Haan played in place of Radek Martinek against the Caps last night and got a healthy 20:07 of ice time. It was just his second career game in the NHL after making his first appearance December 15, 2011. Given the Islanders’ problems all over the ice this season, the time is ripe for de Haan to stake a claim to a regular spot in the lineup.