Arizona Coyotes Martin Hanzal Playing His Best Hockey
Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal is now 12th in scoring in the NHL, even after he missed two games due to injury.
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It really makes you wonder that if Martin Hanzal had been healthy last season what he could have accomplished for the Arizona Coyotes. He had 24 points in 37 games last year, which is .65 points a game. This season he has 15 points (2-g, 13-a) which amounts to a points per game ratio of 1.15.
The difference he has made thus far this season is surmountable to any of his previous eight seasons in a Coyotes’ uniform. The big guy has used his size so well to his advantage, and this season he has been paired mostly with speedster Tobias Rieder, and newcomer sensation Anthony Duclair.
When Head Coach Dave Tippett calls his first power play unit to the ice, he sends Max Domi out there to team up with his buddy Anthony Duclair. The results have been very promising, and Hanzal does much of the dirty work in the corners, and along the boards to dig out pucks and get them to his “Killer D’s”, as they have been coined by Coyotes play-by-play announcer Matt McConnell.
Hanzal’s play has been recognized by the national media, so you know he is doing very well. Here he was interviewed for NHL Network:
Sometimes certain players just ‘click’ with each other, and in Hanzal’s case he and his line-mates have really hit it off. They know where each will be, and when to pass the puck to a certain area on the ice. Having his wingers fly like F-16’s doesn’t hurt either.
Hanzal has excellent face-off skills to add to his other qualities. He uses his size to win the draw, and lets his wingers take control.
In the L.A. Kings game his first goal against Jonathan Quick was an observant play where he intercepted a pass up the middle by the Kings D-man Brayden McNabb. Hanzal gobbled up the puck and blasted it past Quick for his first goal of the 2015-16 season. It was the kind of turnover which used to kill the Coyotes when they made the same mistakes last year, only this go around, they are forcing the opposing team into such blunders, and capitalizing on them.
And for good measure, he grabbed another rebound off an Oliver Ekman-Larsson shot from the point, and had the puck standing on edge as he floated a knuckleball back-handed shot past Quick to tie the game. Max Domi must have taught him that shot.
Next: Arizona Coyotes Games 14 Thru 17 Predictions
If Martin Hanzal can continue his early scoring prowess further into the season, and stay healthy, he adds a dimension to the Arizona Coyotes which is sorely needed in their quest to improve enough this season to make the playoffs. Right now he’s downright dominating… and he’s having a blast playing with two talented, fast young line-mates. What more could he ask for? A season of health would be at the top of his list, I’m sure.