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Calvin de Haan wants to be ready for the Blackhawks season opener Oct. 4 against the Flyers in Prague.
The defenseman, who was acquired from the Hurricanes in the offseason in a four-player trade, practiced with his new teammates for the first time Tuesday at Fifth Third Arena. The first few days of training camp he skated an hour before practice began as he works his way back from an offseason surgery on his right shoulder and a groin strain.
De Haan said Tuesday that his shoulder “feels fine,” and the groin strain is what’s holding him back from playing in preseason games.
Defenseman @cal_dehaan joined the team for practice today and discussed his recovery from shoulder surgery and a minor groin tweak. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/z96psSquwB
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 17, 2019
The Blackhawks announced last Friday prior to the team’s first practice that he’d be “out of the lineup” for 2-3 weeks. The timetable puts his return for Chicago’s season opener in Prague. The Blackhawks have almost a week off after their opener before it hosts the Sharks on Oct. 10 at the United Center.