Dehann - chances of returning to - GENS - very slim

The Islanders have lost their best defenceman and power play specialist - Streit for 6 months

Streit injury gives de Haan a chance with Isles Monday, 09.27.2010 / 8:15 PM / News By Brian Compton - NHL.com Staff Writer 20
ShareUNIONDALE, N.Y. -- He may only be 19 years old, but Calvin de Haan certainly knows the pain Mark Streit is experiencing right now.

A first-round pick (No. 12) by the New York Islanders in 2009, de Haan suffered a shoulder injury similar to the one Streit suffered during a scrimmage at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday morning. The injury limited de Haan to just 34 games for the OHL's Oshawa Generals last season, but he is finally pain free.

Streit, though, likely won't be for quite some time.

"I'd never want to wish an injury upon someone, especially a teammate," de Haan said Monday morning. "I went through it. It (stinks). It's brutal. The first month is awful, actually. You can't do anything. It's such a long rehab. You're very limited the first few months. It's tough. I really feel bad for him."

With Streit out, de Haan has been presented with a golden opportunity. Prior to Saturday, he was probably ticketed for a third junior season. Now, there's a spot up for grabs -- one that involves quarterbacking the Isles' power play. That's right up de Haan's alley, as the Carp, Ontario native had 63 points (8 goals, 55 assists) for Oshawa in 2008-09 and went 5-19-24 in 34 games last season prior to his shoulder injury.

"I feel very comfortable at the top of the umbrella or whatever we're doing," de Haan said. "That's where I like to play the most. They haven't said anything about roles yet, but I think maybe now I'll have more of a power play role. (But) I feel like I've got more of an opportunity now. I still have stuff to prove."

ALL NEWS STORIES ›He'll have this week to showcase his abilities to Isles' brass, as the team plays five exhibition games this week beginning with split-squad contests on Wednesday in Philadelphia and Saskatoon. Although there is a vacancy on the Isles' blue line, de Haan insists he won't be placing added pressure on himself.

"I just treat it as another hockey game," de Haan said. "I've played thousands (of them). I've just got to go out and do what I do best. I'm just going to play my game and have fun and take it all in."

Isles coach Scott Gordon liked what he saw in de Haan during his first training camp last year and has been impressed again with the skilled blue liner -- so much so that de Haan was slated to stick around with the club all week even before Streit went down on Saturday.

"We weren't in any rush to send Calvin back," Gordon said. "We'll see what happens with the games here. But the plan was to have all the guys that have been here in camp be here through Saturday and then we'll re-evaluate after that."

Now up to 184 pounds, de Haan is filling into what was a lanky frame when the team traded up twice last year to grab him at No. 12. The defenseman admitted it's helped him during training camp as he goes up against NHL forwards.

"I feel a lot stronger than I did last year," de Haan said. "I feel a lot more comfortable with it being my second training camp. I've put on 10-15 pounds since the draft last year, and it's pretty much muscle. I feel a lot stronger in the corners and I feel like I don't have to work as hard almost to keep up with the guys. It's not as strenuous on my body. I feel a lot fresher."

It's that confidence that has the Islanders believing they could have something special in de Haan, who was a teammate of New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto for part of the 2008-09 season with the Oshawa Generals. Del Zotto stuck with the Blueshirts last season, as he quarterbacked their power play and tallied 37 points in 80 games. It inspired de Haan, who is eager for his chance -- a chance that may be coming sooner than expected.

"I was his teammate for a half a year," de Haan said of Del Zotto. "Knowing that he can do it, I want to do it, too. That's my goal this year -- to play here. If I'm back in junior, that's fine as well. We'll have a strong team this year. Maybe (I can) lead that team to the playoffs. (But) I want to play here so bad."

One player's misfortune has become another's opportunity. It's all up to de Haan now.

"The bottom line is you have to out-perform somebody," Gordon said. "Now there's one less guy to out-perform."

Follow Brian Compton on Twitter: @BComptonNHL

EMAIL ›| |MORE SHARE › |PRINT ›|COMMENT › 't be surprised if Calvin gets a longer look at camp - unless the Islanders can swing a trade for another defenceman

Good luck to Calvin if he sticks; however, I believe Dips had an idea he might be sticking around with the Isles as the reason he gave up a second round pick for Quinn.

he'll be back this year , perhaps not for awhile but he will be back , he wont be able to take the hitting in the show , why would they keep him just for the pwerplay , doesnt make any sense , he 's not physically ready yet , in my view anyhow , we;ll see !

I'm not going to say he will be back because obviously there is a chance he won't. I personally think the Islanders will make another move and pick up a defenceman before the start of the season. Calvin may start the year with the Islanders and may play 9 games but I would be surprised if he stuck for the entire year. Just my opinion.

I always find it interesting how many feel he won't make it

There was a lot of people who thought Michael Del Zotto wouldn't make it.

I think he could make it BUT selfishly would rather he helped the GENS than

the ISLES

Delzotto was going to be able to play alot of minutes though, Dehaan coming off injury makes that a harder scenario to accomplish.

Calvin was not mentioned at the season ticket holders BBQ on Sunday when they introduced the team. In the past they have mentioned the players away at NHL camps.

Interesting. FYI

http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=538885&navid=DL|NYI|home

ISLANDERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH MIKE MOTTAUDefenseman signs two year pactTuesday, 09.28.2010 / 2:03 PM / News The New York Islanders announced today that they have agreed to terms on a two year contract with defenseman Mike Mottau.

Mottau, 32, spent the last three seasons with the New Jersey Devils. Last season, the Quincy, MA, native scored a career high 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) and a +4 plus-minus rating in 79 games with New Jersey.

“Mike is a solid puck-moving defenseman who will bring more experience to our blueline,” said General Manager Garth Snow.

Mottau, a 6-0, 197 lbs. left-handed shooting defenseman, was drafted by the New York Rangers in the seventh round, 182nd overall, of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. After a four-year collegiate career at Boston College, he turned professional in the 2000-01 season, playing in his first 18 NHL games with the Rangers. In 258 career NHL games with the Rangers, Calgary Flames and Devils, Mottau has seven goals and 46 assists for 53 points with a +10 plus-minus rating and 137 penalty minutes. Mottau has also skated in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games, all with New Jersey, in which he’s recorded four points (two goals, two assists).

Join the Islanders community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NEWYORKISLANDERS or check us out on Twitter @NYIslanders. For further information on ticket packages or how to receive group rates, contact the team’s front office at (516) 501-6700 or e-mail groupsales@newyorkislanders.com.

so much for that open roster spot on the islanders

The delzotto comparison to dehaan is not a good one , delzotto can fly and was a 200 pounder as a ranger last year , dehaan is 185 soaking wet with a wounded shoulder , and he doesn't skate anywhere near as well as delzotto .

True but the Rangers also have more depth than the Islanders so it's harder to make the team. Tavares for example could have benefitted from one year in the AHL but because he was on such a weak team, he stepped right up to the NHL level. He did well with the early excitement of being in the show but as the season wore on, he was not able to perform at his peak, he hit a wall. I don't think he was quite ready. Hopefully that doesn't hurt his development too much.

Tavares could only have come back to junior so that was not going to work. I think the Islanders would be making a mistake to keep Dehaan. He would improve far more playing 35 minutes a night and playing on the WJC team. He would also benefit from Joe Cirrello's coaching.

I am not saying Calvin cannot do it but for his future development he needs another year here.

I hope he is back.

If my understanding of the rule is correct, JT could've played AHL. As far as I know, if you've played four full seasons in the OHL, you can play AHL regardless of your age.

Calvin scores a goal in the Islanders 3-2 loss to Calgary

Just checking out footage of the game now, watching the second period currently, Dehaan looked to be a major cause of the Flames second goal. He tried to lay a check which failed and it created a 2on1 maybe even a 3on1 situation. That said for not playing a game in the last year.... December? January? he looks good out there, i haven't seen the entire game yet though lol

Wow, what a mix up on the third Calgary Goal, Goalie should have grabbed it for the easy save, somehow played out and off Dehaan to Calgarys player and in. Wrong place wrong time for Dehaan, although if he was watching the man instead of the puck maybe Calgary wouldn't have scored.

Can't blame Dehaan for the goal though. Calvins goal was an easy rebound on the pp. Great read and positioning.

hockeybeats wrote:If my understanding of the rule is correct, JT could've played AHL. As far as I know, if you've played four full seasons in the OHL, you can play AHL regardless of your age.

You are correct. I forgot about that rule.

isles coach said that dehaan stood out last night, so far they like him after 1 game, dehaan also was 2nd star of the game

Taking into account his age, the injury and expectations he looked good, that said if the islanders still want a playoff spot they need someone to replace there best defender and i didnt see that last night

Well i just found out that the islanders play another set of split squad games saturday. I had assumed cuts would come down today, but that wont happen. Guess we wait until sunday.

i read a few days ago that the islanders are not cutting anyone until the weekend

My thoughts on this issue - The Islanders will decide after game 9 of the NHL season - Hope he returns to the GENS - I'm not a big fan of any player playing in the NHL until they are 20

On the JT issue he had a great year last year - with the players he had - put JT on the line Stamkos was on and JT'S numbers would be higher

You don't pick a player # 1 overall and send him to the AHL -

Gens Camper wrote:My thoughts on this issue - The Islanders will decide after game 9 of the NHL season - Hope he returns to the GENS - I'm not a big fan of any player playing in the NHL until they are 20

On the JT issue he had a great year last year - with the players he had - put JT on the line Stamkos was on and JT'S numbers would be higher

You don't pick a player # 1 overall and send him to the AHL -

Agree 100%.

Hard to say the isles have seven dmen on one way contracts, so would need to carry 8 dmen or risk losing a player on recall. From there, there are two rookies the name escapes me and they for sure wont carry nine dmen so one if not both need to be cut before the season starts. So if he doesnt impress enough it would be hard to give him nine games.

I'm an advocate of jumping one level at a time. I don't think a year of AHL would hurt anybody whether a first round or late-round pick. JT showed that he had nothing left to accomplish at the OHL level but there was nothing that indicated that he would be too dominant for the AHL. He would have gone there and scored lots of goals and learned how to score on adults rather than teenagers. His skating and defensive awareness was still too questionable to play at the NHL level. He didn't do too badly all things considering but I still think a year of minor pro would have been advantageous in the long-term.