Rangers' Calvin de Haan tries to clear the air about recent comments
Calvin de Haan of the Rangers looks on against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden on March 3. Credit: Jim McIsaac
GREENBURGH – It was all a misunderstanding, Calvin de Haan said Wednesday.
Yes, the 33-year-old defenseman has been frustrated about not being in the Rangers lineup. And yes, he did express that frustration to two reporters at Sunday’s practice in Florida. But Wednesday, at the Rangers’ final practice of the season, de Haan, a healthy scratch for the last 19 games, said he thought he was speaking off the record, and he was surprised when the reporters reported on the interaction.
“I think it got really blown out of proportion, frankly,’’ he said.
The Rangers had an optional practice at the Florida Panthers’ facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sunday, and two reporters attending the practice were standing near the entrance to the ice surface as the Rangers players were stepping onto the ice. They spoke to de Haan, who made a comment about his lack of playing time, and asked if he wanted to talk after practice. He said he would.
But after speaking with a member of the Rangers’ PR staff, de Haan changed his mind about talking after practice. He didn’t think the reporters would make public the interaction.
“I don't remember having microphones out in my face or anything,’’ said de Haan, who added he considered the chat between himself and the reporters to be “small talk.’’
“I mean, to be honest, I didn't think that was very professional of them to not give me a chance to elaborate, especially when I told them I was going to talk to them after the skate,’’ he said.
When he saw the incident had been reported, de Haan then went on X to explain his feelings.
“I just wanted to kind of put the fire out, in a way, and just put that post on X,’’ de Haan said. “They asked me if I was frustrated, and maybe I should have chosen my words a little better, frankly. But it was a long month for me, and … at the end of the day, I just wanted a chance to compete.’’
He explained Wednesday that his mood was affected by not being home at all in March. He has a toddler at home he hasn’t seen, and his wife is pregnant, he said.
“So that obviously snowballs,’’ he said. “And there's a boiling point at some point.’’
He said after he saw the reporters’ posts on social media, he called GM Chris Drury and “tried to do the honorable thing’’ and apologize.
De Haan was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche, along with Juuso Parssinen and a couple of draft picks, in the March 1 trade that sent Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to Colorado. He played in the first three games after arriving, but then Drury traded for defenseman Carson Soucy from Vancouver at the March 7 deadline and de Haan hasn’t played since.
Panarin named Rangers' MVP
Artemi Panarin was chosen the team’s MVP in a vote by the local media. Panarin leads the team in scoring with 37 goals and 87 points, and in the last 22 games, as the Rangers futilely pressed to try and earn a playoff spot, he had 14 goals and 16 assists.
“Down the stretch, when the games were on the line, and the season’s on the line… he's out trying to be that impact for our team to push us across the line,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said. “So good on him.’’
Panarin also was named as the local media’s Good Guy, in recognition of his willingness to co-operate with the media all season.
Sam Carrick was voted by his teammates as the Player’s Player.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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