Calvin de Haan, Defenseman/Tampa Bay Lightning
The only defenseman on this list, Calvin de Haan is also one of the older, more experienced players who has seen time with some winning franchises over the years. Like everyone else listed above him, he doesn’t log many minutes and would factor best in a third-pairing, but de Haan is another player who would also bring a dose of physicality and with it, an intimidation factor.
You probably figured out just from the description above or by watching him that de Haan is a stay-at-home type of defenseman whose game is not flashy in the slightest. He’s never had great numbers, even when you look at his advanced stats, be they at 5-on-5, at even strength, or even short-handed.
Overall, de Haan is nothing more than an affordable stopgap who can play bottom-pairing minutes or factor in as a seventh defenseman. It’s the role we have seen him in lately, but his experience, as with many on this list, would be great for an upstart team like Montreal.
If he can provide leadership, then de Haan doesn’t need to impress anyone on the stat sheet. And best yet, if he tested the market, signed with Montreal, and the Canadiens are a better team after what would be a departure after one season at this stage in his career, then he did his job.