By Amy K. Nelson
SportsTicker Staff Writer
Darren Haydar |
If you were among the people looking for
Darren Haydar during the summertime, you wouldn't have been able to find him swimming in a pool or reclining on a chaise longue.
He had other plans.
After his freshman season at the University of New Hampshire, Haydar was drafted in the ninth round by the Nashville Predators in 1999. For the next three summers, due to NCAA rules, Haydar elected to pay his way through an optional NHL rookie development camp.
"When it was time for me to come to (NHL) training camp, I wanted to feel comfortable in the situation," Haydar said. "I wanted to show them that I wasn't joking around, that I really wanted to be in Nashville and play in the NHL."
Yet despite his hard work, Haydar, who spent four seasons with UNH, was sent down to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League without playing a preseason game in Nashville.
"When we sent him to Milwaukee, the challenge for him was to make Milwaukee," said Predators' assistant general manager Ray Shero. "And to challenge himself to be the best player in three exhibition games, and then we'd go from there."
A challenge Haydar successfully lived up to. Through November 20, the 23-year-old forward leads his team and all AHL rookies in scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists. His hot start even included the league's Rookie of the Month award in October.
Listed at 5-9, 160 pounds, Haydar makes up for his lack of size by lifting and training. Attending camp each year has helped him build strength.
"He's not a big guy, he's not a speedster," said Milwaukee head coach Peter Horacheck. "He's not Pavel Bure going down the wing, but has a great knack for offense and scoring goals.
"He has to prove people wrong all the time and has to continue to prove himself to everbody because he isn't big. That's a tribute to him to say that he's just going to keep forging forward."
It also is a testament to his strong will and his natural talent. The Toronto native is known for his great hockey sense and impressive stickhandling abilities, with sharp play around the net. Ask, and people will mostly compare him to Cliff Ronning and Steve Sullivan, only with less speed.
Haydar entered this year's training camp coming off the 2001-2002 season where he finished second in the nation in scoring with 31 goals and 41 assists. He was a first-team All-American and the Hockey East Player of the Year. Haydar was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker award, given annually to the nation's top senior in college hockey.
"One of my goals at the start of last season was to be a finalist and more importantly, to help bring my team back to the Frozen Four," he said.
In 1999, Haydar's freshman year, UNH lost the championship game to Michigan, with linemate Jason Krog winning the Hobey. Last April, Haydar accomplished his goal of reaching the Frozen Four, but the Wildcats were eliminated in the semi-finals.
UNH head coach Dick Umile oversaw a smart, humble kid who had fierce determination.
"He made an impact when he first came to UNH and made it very quickly," Umile said. "He's probably one of the greatest hockey players to play here. He's a terrific player who made an impact on our program and an impact on the community as well. Off-ice he's just as talented."
The Toronto, Ontario native knows he has to work hard and put up big numbers in order for Nashville to give him a shot. But his chance came sooner than expected. Haydar made his NHL debut in Chicago on November 17.
"I wasn't expecting to play that much or to have that much ice time" said Haydar, who finished with minus-1 and 13:14 on the ice in a 2-0 loss.
"My first shift, it felt like I didn't have any knees. It was definitely really exciting."
Haydar suffered a mild concussion on the last shift of the game when he took a check into the boards. The following day he was returned to the Admirals, but not because of the injury.
Haydar's positive attitude and incredible work ethic are what got him to the professional level. He also is one of the nicest players off the ice. If he continues to score, the possibility of winning a permanent roster spot on a young Nashville team could become reality.
"I think he has a real commitment to the game and a commitment to his career," said Shero. "It's going to be interesting to see where it takes him because he certainly has special qualities that puts him ahead of other guys."
