Calvin de Haan is a defenseman that will garner some interest as the season continues towards the NHL Trade Deadline. A veteran defenseman on an expiring deal with a $4.55M AAV cap hit, de Haan could be a target for the Toronto Maple Leafs (and a fairly obvious trade piece for the likely selling Chicago Blackhawks).
According to The Fourth Period, Toronto is looking to add to their defensive group before March 21, but would have to move a player or two out to make the money work. The Maple Leafs are reportedly trying to move defenseman Travis Dermott and forward Nick Ritchie to make room as the deadline approaches.
Speaking with Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, de Haan talked about what it’s like being a player mentioned in trade rumors this time of the year:
At this point in my career, I think I’m kind of open to anything. That isn’t the politically correct statement, but it’s the truth. My wife and I love it in Chicago and if I’m a part of the plan and the future here, we’d obviously like to stay. But trades happen. At this point in my career, it’d be nice to get back in the playoffs, for sure.
He’s also not one to be shy about finding those rumors online, too. After making a costly bad pass against the Red Wings that led to an easy goal for Detroit, de Haan’s name was all over “Blackhawks Twitter” and he was listening. But the rumors and speculation around his name isn’t something that he cares to much about until there’s something tangible to care about, as he tells The Athletic:
There’s always those guys who sit on their La-Z-Boys at home and create rumors and shit like that. But until it happens, you can’t really believe it. It would definitely be an experience to be moved at the deadline.
Playing in 38 games this season, de Haan has a goal and three assists for the Blackhawks and is 11 games shy of his 500th career NHL game. He is fourth in the NHL among all defensemen in blocked shots per 60-minutes (7.19) and ranks in the top-three on the Blackhawks in hits (75) and blocked shots (88) for all defensemen.
Along with rumors of connections to de Haan in Chicago, the Fourth Period report also mentions Montreal’s Ben Chiarot, Dallas’ John Klingberg, and Anaheim’s Josh Manson as other potential targets for the Maple Leafs, but those players would need a much larger return in a trade package. While Toronto is reportedly comfortable with moving their 2022 first-round pick in a deal, if they wanted to go for a more affordable route, de Haan would likely garner just a mid-round pick or two from the Maple Leafs, even with the possibility of Chicago retaining a portion of his salary.
Chicago feels that they have a robust group of young defensive talent in their prospect system. If he’s moved before the NHL Trade Deadline, de Haan’s spot in the lineup would like go to a player like Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, or rookie standout Jakub Galvas for the remainder of the season. We’ll stay up on this one to see if it has any legs, so stick with us.
Oh, and remember, the Blackhawks are trying to add a new general manager sometime in the next two-three weeks, ahead of the trade deadline. Lots of moving parts.