Rangers' Calvin de Haan sets record straight on controversial statement about Chris Drury, Peter Laviolette

The 2024-25 NHL season may be reaching its end for the New York Rangers, but the drama tap is still wide open—and the sink is overflowing in New York City. Calvin de Haan is the latest Ranger to speak out about GM Chris Drury and head coach Peter Laviolette. However, he appears to have walked back his remarks.

With one game left in the NHL season, the Rangers are looking to put their disappointing campaign in the past and move on onto what’s set to be a dramatic offseason, with many lingering questions left unanswered.

On the one hand, the Broadway Blueshirts face a tough decision on their head coach, after Peter Laviolette‘s second year behind the bench fell well short of expectations. Though Laviolette made clear his intentions to stay in The Big Apple, the decision is on the organization’s hands.

Moreover, the roster is staring down some major decisions, with several key players set to hit free agency. Calvin de Haan is among the upcoming UFAs in New York, and while it’s unlikely he’ll be extended—especially after his recent comments—he does seem to have walked them back.

Calvin de Haan #44 of the New York Rangers skates in his first game with the team against the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2025 in New York City.

“I was just going out on the ice and thought it was more of a small talk conversation with the reporters,” de Haan said about his comments, via lohud. “Maybe I should have chosen my words a little better, frankly.”

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Message to Laviolette

Since the Rangers traded for de Haan in a move that sent Ryan Lindgren to Colorado, the former Avalanche appeared in just 3 games, being scratched in over 20 games. Obviously, his frustration got the best of him when making his statement.

“[Laviolette] knows I’m upset,” de Haan stated. “It’s no hard feelings against Lavi. It’s business, at the end of the day. It’s nothing personal. It’s just the decisions that they’ve made that I don’t necessarily agree with at times.”

Chris Drury of the New York Rangers attends the 2024 NHL entry Draft at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Putting out the fire

After de Haan realized the magnitude of his comments, he called team president and GM Chris Drury hoping to address the situation.

“I called (Rangers team president) Chris Drury right after I saw everything online and tried to do their honorable thing, and just tell him, ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to belittle anyone or drag the organization through the mud,’” de Haan added. “I think it got really blown out of proportion, frankly.”