Calvin de Haan practiced with the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time but said he isn't sure if he will be ready for the regular-season opener when the Blackhawks play the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2019 NHL Global Series at O2 Arena in Prague on Oct. 4 (2 p.m. ET, NHLN, NBCSP).
"Feels good to pass the pucks and get in the corners with the guys and just getting in some game-like situations," said de Haan, who had surgery on his right shoulder in May and is also dealing with a groin injury. "Every knows not to run me through the boards or anything. Just feels nice to get back out there after a long summer of not really skating that much, and it's nice to get to know your teammates out on the ice as well."
The defenseman said he'd like to play in Prague but won't push it if he's not ready.
"I mean it would be a great experience, for sure," he said. "I'm just going to keep working and do as I'm told. I really want to play that first game, but there are another 81 after that, so it's not really a big rush."
Tracey Myers