Hurricanes makeover continues with Calvin de Haan signing

The Carolina Hurricanes add to their strength by signing Calvin de Haan to a four-year deal.

New Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell promised the roster would look different heading into 2018-19. So far, he wasn’t lying. The Hurricanes came out of nowhere to sweep up defenseman Calvin de Haan off the free agency market.

The 27-year-old played in 33 games for the New York Islanders last season, scoring 12 points. His season was cut short following shoulder surgery.

The Hurricanes had $20 million in cap space prior to this deal, so money was no issue for them. He gets term with Carolina, which is big coming off a shoulder injury. More importantly, he’ll get an opportunity to play a top-four role. He’ll play alongside Dougie Hamilton or Justin Faulk on the Carolina blueline.

That assumes Carolina doesn’t trade Faulk. His name has popped up in trade rumors all offseason. The trade for Hamilton pushed him down the depth chart, and he has Brett Pesce breathing down his neck on the right side. Pesce is set to make $4 million next season. That’s a hefty price for a bottom pair defender. With the Hurricanes needing more help up front, Faulk could be the guy to bring them back a scoring forward.

If Faulk is retained, Carolina boasts one of the top defensive groups in the league. They still need to come to terms with restricted free agent Trevor van Riemsdyk, but that feels like a formality at this point.

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Many teams were interested in acquiring the services of de Haan, who was the top defenseman on the market once John Carlson re-signed with Washington. He reportedly had offers from no less than six teams. The Hurricanes were never mentioned as a potential suitor, so this deal was kept quiet or came together at the last minute.