Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal enters 2016-17 on the final year of his contract. The question for GM John Chayka and the franchise is do Hanzal and the Yotes have a future together?
The Arizona Coyotes are approaching a crossroads.
Management, coaches, and fans alike are expecting Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak to be the top two centers for the franchise for the next decade plus.
Strome and Dvorak have looked like can’t miss prospects during their tenures in the OHL. They are both a crucial part of Arizona’s future. The problem is that critics are looking at the future and not the present.
Martin Hanzal is still Arizona’s top center and for good reason.
The 29-year-old looked impressive for an average Czech Republic World Cup of Hockey team. Hanzal played his usual solid defensive game and was able to chip in one goal and an assist in the tournament.
When healthy, Hanzal provides the Coyotes an extra dimension to their lineup.
However, with one year left on his deal, a nagging inability to stay healthy, and the likelihood of Strome and Dvorak being on the roster as early as this season, Marty could become expendable.
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If the price is right, Martin Hanzal should definitely be re-signed.
He is known as a player that can match up against Anze Kopitar, Ryan Getzlaf, and Jonathan Toews in the grueling Western Conference. If the Coyotes want to make the playoffs and obtain the wins they are aspiring to achieve, they need a shut down center for those elite talents.
Fans will look at Martin Hanzal’s 41 points last year and think that he is not an important or untouchable piece of the Coyotes.
Martin Hanzal’s total contribution to the organization does not show up on the score sheet. His determination in front of the net is a huge asset on the power play. He’s also valuable on the penalty kill.
With a very efficient face-off percentage of 55.97%, Hanzal allows the Arizona Coyotes to control the puck and it is an easy way to jump start the offense.
Lastly with Hanzal being an assistant captain, it would seem unwise to trade away another veteran leader with a youth movement coming for the Coyotes.
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Shane Doan is about to ride off into the sunset for his career, and Arizona needs veteran leaders to carry on from arguably the best captain in the NHL.
While he may not be the next captain of the Arizona Coyotes, Martin Hanzal will still be a leader for the organization and a valuable role model for incoming prospects.