We all remember the Islanders draft party vividly. We all remember the days leading up to it, the excruciating hour prior to the pick, the heart wrenching and terribly false Newsday report which had the Islanders all-but-certainly selecting Matt Duchene first overall, and then finally, the euphoric explosion that centered at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and quickly had its ripple effect across all of Islanders Country once John Tavares was selected by Garth Snow.
What came shortly following that pick was truly unexpected…
Garth Snow and company, who also had the 26th overall pick thanks to a fine trade earlier in the year with the Ottawa Senators, began their process of going after that “targeted player.” By moving up first from 26th to 16th, and then unexpectedly from 16th to 12th, the Islanders obviously had their minds set on one specific player who probably wouldn’t have been their much longer. With Zach Kassian, Chris Kreider, Jordan Schroeder, and many other big names still left on the board to help the Islanders weak offense, Garth Snow made a surprise splash by selecting Calvin de Haan, the projected 26th overall pick.
Why, you ask, is this significant nearly three months after it happened? That answer is simple: Scott Gordon and Garth Snow are apparently thinking about keeping the youngster around for his first NHL season. If the Islanders go through with this, and sign him to an entry-level contract, I will be the first to say I am not a fan of this move. I don’t even think I’d advocate keeping him up here for nine games this season, and guaranteeing the beginning of his contract next year.
The average defenseman in hockey, upon being drafted, takes anywhere from two to five years to develop into a true top-six NHL defenseman. This estimate is obviously taking into account the fact that the kid has the potential and desire to work himself into an NHL defenseman, and isn’t just some early or late-round dud. Furthermore, this estimate does not include above-average star-players who can make the jump into the NHL right away, a la Victor Hedman (yes, I really do think he will be very successful in his first year).
Do not take my antipathy towards keeping him on the NHL roster this year as me disliking the player and/or the selection. On the contrary, I actually think the selection of Calvin de Haan was a rather intelligent pick for the Islanders, and I do think that he has loads of potential as a number two defenseman who can also run the power-play in the future. His above-average speed, his quick-feet, his excellent stick-handling abilities, and his vision for the game will allow him to develop into an excellent new-NHL type defenseman who can play both on both sides of the puck.
The reason I am against him staying on the island is simple. Calvin de Haan truly needs to develop and mature further as a hockey player and athlete before he can begin his development as an NHL player. While he may be of average height for an NHL player, he is still underweight, and not nearly strong enough to be working against some of the most talented, strong, and intelligent hockey players in the world. I just think it would be a shot to his confidence when he is getting run over numerous times.
While he has done well in his preseason games, it must be remembered that he has been going up against players from other teams who also will be sent down to juniors and the American Hockey League. Can you truly envision, at this moment in time, de Haan being able to press and contain Atlantic Division players such as Jordan Staal, Travis Zajac, and Daniel Briere?
Garth Snow, who is finally doing this rebuild in the proper manner, should continue to follow his stringent rules and allow the development to happen naturally. By allowing de Haan to put on muscle and develop his game further with his junior team in Canada this season, both the Islanders and de Haan will benefit in the long term. By rushing him into the NHL immediately, de Haan is going to be faced with a quick adjustment process, a shot to his confidence which is flying high after going 12th overall, and he may develop bad habits to compensate for his immaturity and lack of strength.
We all know the expectations for the Islanders this season. Calvin de Haan is not going to make the projected 15th place Islanders into a playoff team. The Islanders might as well allow him to develop properly so that when he steps on the ice next season, he will be truly ready to make a difference.
Wouldn’t you agree?
-Justin (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)
1 comment:
Totally agree with you on this. I compare his situation to that of Marc Staal and the Rangers let him play out his Junior eligiility and gave him some time inHartford before letting him stick with the big club. He's stepped in and been very good but even he has some more room to grow. There is no need to rush De Haan unless Snow and Gordon really feel he'll develop more quickly in the NHL. That's a risky proposition even if the Kings, Thrashers and Leafs had success with their 18 year-old 1st round pick defensemen last year.
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