Martin Hanzal —
Martin Hanzal played this past season in the NHL for the Phoenix Coyotes.
Position: Center Shoots: Left
DOB: Pisek, Czech Rep.
Height: 6’6 Weight: 236
Selected by: Phoenix Round: 1st Overall: 17th Year: 2005 NHL Entry Draft
Eight Years Later
I like to pick a current roster player on one of my favorite teams and look back at what their projections were based on their junior careers and where they were drafted. One of my favorite websites for this sort of thing is Hockey’s Future. Martin Hanzal played one season in the WHL for the Red Deer Rebels and lead the team in scoring with 26 goals, 59 assists for a total of 85 points along with 94 PIM and a +13 rating in 60 games. Let’s see what the guys at Hockey’s Future said.
After Six Years In The NHL
It’s been 8 years since the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and his analysis from the guys at Hockey’s Future was pretty solid. Their description of Hanzal is pretty much how I would evaluate him today with a few minor exceptions.
His offensive game didn’t transition as well from Junior to Pro as many thought it would but he certainly did work on his defensive side of the game. Right now, Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett uses Hanzal in both offensive and defensive situations. Martin Hanzal is also one of the Coyotes top face-off men. In the past two seasons, his offensive game has started to look a little more consistent but his defensive game has improved to the point where Dave Tippett uses him as his primary shut-down center and one of his top penalty killers.
The guys at Hockey’s Future gave him a Prospect Talent Score (PTS) of 8.0 and Probability Of Success (POS) of B and I’d have to agree. Martin Hanzal may have under delivered on the offensive side a little bit but more than made up for it by over delivering on the defensive side. My only critique of Hanzal’s game is he seems a little fragile at times. He has grown into his 6’6 frame, competes and plays a physical game but gets these little nagging injuries that keep him out of the line-up. He’s played in 391 out of possible 458 games over 6 seasons.
In conclusion, there isn’t one team in the NHL that wouldn’t love a 6’6 center like Hanzal that plays a solid 200 ft game with a touch of grit. Martin Hanzal has gone from “Prospect” to “Has Potential” to a “Bonafide NHL’er”.
Comments welcome below
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I would agree with the score, but let me add my frustration with Marty. Over his career he is wildly inconsistant. He also has the knack for taking bad penalties in the worst of times in a game. He needs to become a smarter player and he’s getting there. I absolutely agree with his defensive game. He has become a very good defensive center. Something I think he needed to develop in his game to keep him in the NHL. Hopefully there are better years to come for Marty.
agreed Dave, for me it was always about shaking the “potential” tag and getting it done. I hope he still has more to offer also ….. years 28-32 should be prime-time. I realize players develop at different rates and Coyote fans have been fairly patient with Marty.