Defenseman Calvin de Haan is upset about the way the New York Rangers have treated him since the team acquired him on March 1.
While passing by reporters before an on-ice session Sunday, de Haan said something to the effect of: "How about the way I've been treated here? It's f----d," according to New York Post Sports' Mollie Walker.
De Haan has been a healthy scratch for the last 18 games. He's suited up for just three contests for the Rangers after being traded by the Colorado Avalanche, where he played 44 games before the deal.
Rangers PR had a conversation with de Haan after he came off the ice, and he decided to wait until the end of the season to speak with the media, according to Walker.
De Haan later took to social media to address the situation.
"I said what I said because I am frustrated, and any competitor who says that they would be happy in this position would be lying to you," de Haan wrote on X. "After playing three games for the team and going 2-0-1, I thought I maybe would have got an opportunity to jump into the lineup and help win some games.
"Did I help win those games I played, maybe? Maybe not? But we still won and collected some crucial points to climb the standings. I understand the youth movement in the NHL, and I'm getting older in hockey years, and I may not play every single night. ... I feel like I can still keep up and help a team in certain facets of the game.
"I'm not trying to be the villain or gain attention or throw shade on the organization. I would have preferred a scrum setting to chat about how my time with the Rangers has gone. As a player, you have to respect the lineup decisions, whether you like them or not, it's just been frustrating not being able to compete and do what I love to do. I hope everyone understands."
De Haan is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 33-year-old has played 679 NHL games over 13 seasons.
