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.