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Chicago Blackhawks: An extended look at the new guys

By Vincent Parise

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 20: Robin Lehner #40 and Matt Martin #17 of the New York Islanders celebrate victory over the Anaheim Ducks at NYCB Live at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 20, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders shut-out the Ducks 3-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 20: Robin Lehner #40 and Matt Martin #17 of the New York Islanders celebrate victory over the Anaheim Ducks at NYCB Live at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 20, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders shut-out the Ducks 3-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Blackhawks Calvin de Haan
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Calvin de Haan

Calvin de Haan might be the most important acquisition the Blackhawks have made in this offseason. They were an abysmal team in their own zone in 2018-19. They were so bad defensively and it clearly cost them a playoff spot.

We know how good of a season Kane, Toews, DeBrincat, and Strome had offensively, but they just gave up way too many goals to make them a successful team. They scored 270 goals in 2018-19 which was second to only the Winnipeg Jets in the entire division and only the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames had more in the entire Western Conference. They were an offensive powerhouse.

The problem was the fact that although they scored all those goals, they had a -22 goal differential. 292 goals given up total all year. Dead last in the entire Western Conference. It is a true shame that their team goals against is that bad despite their goals for was that good.

They recognized this issue and brought in an awesome defensive defenseman. de Haan had one goal and 13 assists last season so he isn’t given you any offense at all. All he is going to give you is 18-21 minutes of defensive hockey. Remember Niklas Hjalmarsson? Think of him when you think of what you want de Haan to bring to the Blackhawks.

Hopefully, de Haan can bring some great play to this team and help them keep the puck out of their own net. If I were the coach, he would be out there whenever the Toews and Strome line isn’t. Those lines will defend by simply having good possession numbers, so de Haan can be a help in the other defensive areas.

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