Just before going into an arbitration hearing Wednesday afternoon, the Islanders and restricted free-agent defenseman Calvin de Haan reached a deal on a one-year contract worth $3.3 million.
De Haan, 26, is coming off his fifth and best season as a pro, with career highs in points (25) and goals (five), while playing all 82 games and logging the fifth-most minutes per game (19:50) on the team. He also finished with 190 blocked shots, good for fourth in the league, and won a silver medal with Canada at the World Championships.
While de Haan was looking for a long-term deal for more money, this slight discount does take him into unrestricted free agency next season. Now with an expiring contract, he also could become a more valuable trade chip for general manager Garth Snow at the deadline, if not before.
“Calvin is a home-grown product of the organization and has developed into one of our top defensemen during his time with the organization,” Snow said in a statement, having drafted de Haan with the 12th pick in 2009. “He plays important minutes for our club and we’re excited to have him back for one more year.”
This now leaves the Islanders defense pretty well set for the start of training camp in September. Snow recently locked up another young restricted free-agent defenseman, Adam Pelech, to a four-year, $6.4 million deal, carrying an annual cap hit of $1.6 million.
With the exit of veteran Travis Hamonic in a trade to the Flames, Pelech (who turns 23 this month) could join 22-year-old Ryan Pulock and 24-year-old Scott Mayfield in a blueline corps that will certainly be younger. It’s a group where de Haan can now be considered a veteran, joining the top pair of Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk, as well as depth options Thomas Hickey and Dennis Seidenberg.
Snow still has a big stockpile of high draft picks ready and is still looking for a deal to improve his skill up front — most notably, waiting to see if he can snag Matt Duchene despite unreasonable requests from Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic.
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The biggest issue for Snow remains the status of captain John Tavares, who is entering the final year of his contract and is diligently weighing his options before signing an extension. Tavares recently reiterated his long-held stance about wanting to remain with the Islanders when talking Tuesday to TSN in Toronto, although he wouldn’t get into the nitty-gritty of the contract negotiations.
“I think I’ll just keep all that internal,” Tavares told the station, via NHL.com. “We’ve had great open communication. It’s obviously a great place to play. I’ve really enjoyed my time being an Islander and I want that to continue.”
The organization is also looking to leave Barclays Center after two disappointing seasons at its Brooklyn home. It is almost certain the Islanders will opt out of their 25-year lease in January, and sometime within in the next two months, owners Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin are expected to submit a proposal to New York State for the development of a new arena and surrounding area at Belmont Park.