Second Act: de Haan, Dzingel Hoping To Earn Another Shot With Canes

RALEIGH, NC. - They say the hockey world is a small one.
Sometimes that means players having skated together before in juniors or the minors, coaches having worked together during a prior stop, but in the case of Ryan Dzingel and Calvin de Haan, it's returning to a team that they'd previously played for.

Whether they could have predicted a potential return after their departures from the team the first time - de Haan following the 2018-19 season, Dzingel after being traded in February of 2021 - or not, each has their own viewpoint on how their reunion with the Hurricanes came to be and what they hope to get out of it.
For de Haan, nothing is certain. Coming to camp on a professional tryout (PTO), the now 31-year-old defenseman is attempting to prove that not only he can still play, but play for a contending team.
"I'm just trying my best to stay relevant. It was a frustrating summer because lots of teams are over the cap," he began after initially admitting that he did think he'd have a guaranteed contract somewhere in the league by now. When it came time to accept a PTO, he wasn't going to jump aboard with anyone. "A big thing for me is trying to get back into the playoffs... This team's been competitive since I was here and ever since then they've been a juggernaut in the NHL. I think they're close to getting to that next step and I think I can help. I hope there's a spot for me and I'd love to play here again."
Although he had positive things to say about the personnel and the organization, de Haan's desire to play for a winning team again comes following three "underachieving" seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. And while some were surprised to see him make his way back to North Carolina, he's grown past how he initially felt upon his exit from the organization in 2019.
"I was sour for a little bit, especially after playing what I played through in the playoffs. I thought I was a big part of that run, but it is what it is. It's a business and I really have started to understand that as I'm getting older," de Haan spoke of the situation. "I want to help this team get to the next level and I hope they want me."

As for Dzingel, his return comes with a bit more stability and following a wild sequence of events.
Inking
a two-way contract in late July
, the forward comes back after
being dealt mid-season to Ottawa two years ago
. Despite being moved amid the COVID-shortened campaign, there's no hard feelings from him, but rather an appreciation to be given another shot.
"The last two or three years haven't gone the way I wanted to. I mean, I can't stay healthy on the ice. I think I've played 20 games in the last two years, so you don't get many opportunities when that happens]," he shared bluntly.
"It was a blessing that [the Canes] gave me another chance to try because I really haven't earned one over the last couple years. I haven't been healthy enough. So it's a chance for me to come here and steal a job and if not, Chicago is my hometown so I can work on my craft, get back on the ice there and try to get back to the NHL."
Honest and forthcoming about his injury problems, Dzingel wasn't ready to let his struggles force him to call it quits on the game though.
"I'm only 30 years old. I have a lot of good games left in me. I've had a couple surgeries and I feel healthy for the first time in a long time," he continued. "I don't want to give it up just yet."
Quick to point out that his injuries are not excuses, the winger disclosed that one of the surgeries he was alluding to was on his wrist. For the past few seasons he'd thought he was playing with a routine case of tendonitis, when in actuality, he had two tears in it.
But just when he thought he was in the clear after his medical procedures, he had one final obstacle to overcome this summer. Visiting his wife's family in Virginia, Dzingel was awoken during the middle of a night with to a massive surprise.
"I was looking at my options - Russia, Switzerland, PTOs - and I was praying about it. I needed a sign. I woke up four hours later and had a huge spider bite. My elbow was the size of a watermelon."
Rushed to the emergency room and eventually shifted to the care of the Washington Capitals doctors, the medical personnel was having trouble putting their thumb on what exactly had transpired. Then, everything changed and he got what he considers the pivotal moment.
"One day it just went back to normal, the fluid left. Then [Canes Strength & Conditioning Coach Bill Burniston] calls me and asks if I wanted to play for a job here... So I called Roddy, [Justin Williams] and Tom [Dundon] and it all worked out."
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