Jeremy Colliton runs intense practices. Heavy respiratory and sweat-dripping brows are frequent sights within the Blackhawks’ locker room.
But for brand spanking new Hawks defenseman Calvin de Haan, who truly performed alongside Colliton within the AHL eight years in the past, lots of the strenuous elements appear oddly acquainted.
“It’s funny because there’s a couple drills that we’ve done throughout training camp and practice that I’ve seen a few times before,” de Haan mentioned Thursday, chuckling. “I’ve kind of called him out on that.”
The veteran blueliner finds himself in a scenario few NHL gamers have ever skilled: being coached by a former teammate.
As a rookie within the Islanders group in 2011-12, de Haan spent all however one recreation of the season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. And in Bridgeport, Colliton was royalty — he was the crew’s captain and, by the tip of the 12 months, its all-time main scorer.
Despite occupying completely different positions (Colliton was a ahead), de Haan’s standing as a latest first-round choose meant he and the longer term Hawks boss nonetheless regularly labored and performed collectively. De Haan’s third-ever skilled level, actually, was the first help on a Colliton extra time winner.
“I was coming in right out of juniors, not knowing anything about pro hockey, moving in with a couple other 20-year-old kids,” de Haan mentioned this previous July, shortly after his commerce from Carolina to Chicago. “Having Jeremy there was probably like the … best captain you could have asked for for the young team.”
The two males went separate instructions after that season — Colliton shifting to Sweden and rapidly switching to teaching, de Haan rising as a full-time NHL defenseman with now 380 profession appearances — however de Haan mentioned he was by no means shocked to see the pace with which Colliton was climbing the ranks.
Offseason addition Calvin de Haan made his Blackhawks debut final weekend towards the Jets.Getty
Since their reunion in Chicago initially of coaching camp, he’s seen firsthand how Colliton’s management qualities have translated to his present position.
“I’ve enjoyed playing for him so far,” de Haan mentioned. “I could see it when he was a captain in Bridgeport, and he hasn’t changed much — he’s a smart guy and he thinks outside the box, and that’s the new NHL.”
Their preexisting relationship has proved helpful, too, regardless of the eight years aside.
As de Haan labored his means again from offseason shoulder surgical procedure and a groin subject in the course of the preseason, the Hawks’ Europe journey and the primary week of the common season, Colliton and de Haan chatting on the ice after observe was a near-daily incidence.
De Haan wanted to offer Colliton every day updates on his well being standing, and Colliton wanted to familiarize de Haan along with his hybrid defensive scheme, which de Haan mentioned differs considerably from the man-on-man system he ran with the Hurricanes. Despite one misstep, the common communication was largely efficient.
“When you’ve played with a guy, you have a connection,” Colliton mentioned. “Maybe it’s a bit quicker to be able to get to the point, because he knows me, and I can be quite direct with him. That’s a nice thing.”
De Haan lastly made his Hawks debut final weekend after which performed properly alongside Erik Gustafsson on the third pairing Monday — the duo was on the ice for 12 Hawks scoring possibilities and solely 4 Oilers scoring possibilities.
Now absolutely wholesome, De Haan will possible slide into a bigger position quickly. And when he does, he is aware of he’ll have a chief useful resource for any questions he wants answered.
“Jeremy’s very approachable,” he mentioned. “He’s easy to talk to, easy to get along with, and having that relationship before definitely helps for sure.”