Veteran defenceman Calvin de Haan has signed a new contract with Colorado. The Avalanche have signed him to a one-year contract. Moreover, the one-way contract carries an average annual value of $800,000. De Haan joined the Lightning as a free agent last summer to impact the bottom pairing on defence and kill penalties. However, the veteran defender will take his services to Colorado for the 2024-25 season.
Calvin de Haan signs a 1-year, $800,000 deal with Colorado
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2024
Calvin de Haan Signs Contract With Colorado Avalanche
De Haan was a very underrated depth piece for the Lightning last season. While he didn’t play much due to a log jam on the blue line, he was very effective in a shutdown bottom pairing role. In 59 games during the regular season, de Haan recorded three goals and even assists for ten points. With four teams across his National Hockey League career, de Haan has 24 goals and 117 assists for 141 points in 632 games. His best season came with the Islanders in 2016-17, where the young blue-liner registered five goals and 25 points in 82 games—with that said, what does de Haan bring to his new club for the upcoming season?
How de Haan Impacts the Avalanche Backend
The de Haan signing makes sense for the Avalanche. A team desperately needing depth on the blue line, Colorado finds a cheap and affordable veteran to help them continue a push for another Stanley Cup. De Haan brings responsible defensive play and a penalty-kill option to the team next season. If there are any injuries, De Haan can be a short-term fill in, capable of playing top-four minutes in short spurts. However, he won’t offer much more than stable bottom-pair minutes on long-term basis at 33-years-old. This contract is affordable for the short term while their Cup window is open and to help the Avalanche take one more run at Lord Stanley.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
