Blackhawks Acquire Michal Handzus
The Chicago Blackhawks have traded a fourth round pick to the San Jose Sharks for veteran center Michal Handzus.
Handzus, 36, has one goal and one assist and is minus-nine in 28 games with the Sharks this season. He won 55.6 percent of his faceoffs this season in San Jose, and was credited with 23 blocked shots. Handzus was averaging 13:32 on ice per game, 1:59 of which came short-handed.
He previously wore the Indianhead sweater for eight games during the 2006-07 season.
According to CSN Bay Area, the fourth round pick headed to San Jose will be in the 2013 Draft, and originally belonged to San Jose. So… the Hawks got Handzus for nothing.
Brandon Bollig was sent to Rockford to make room on the roster for Handzus.
So we will see him take faceoffs, hopefully win them, and then skate straight for the bench to get a younger, faster player on the ice?
I should take that previous comment back. He kind of sounds like a John Madden type and I loved that guy.
Who wants to bet this is the only move Stan makes? And furthermore, when does the “adding Sharpie & Hoss back to the lineup is essentially like making a trade” statement come about?
Can we please just stop moaning and whining until after the trade deadline?
I happen to like the fact that Bowman didn’t make big moves last season. He’s smart enough to think ahead and knows the best time to go for it.
This is a great addition….a 6’5, 220 lb Center winning 56% of his faceoffs for a 4th Round Pick? I’ll take it all day baby.
Love this addition, especially for the low, low price. Hoping for maybe another big forward or D-man though …team needs more physicality at both ends.
By SB standards, at this point in the season, I feel like it’s as bold as it is gonna get.
good one mox
while he can win face offs, where is he going to play? fourth line? where does kruger play? I don’t see how it helps the 2nd line, but it’s something.
And as you said RyanDale this is SB’s big move. I figured this is what was going to happen. Oh well, Go Hawks.
I applaud this move. It addressed the Hawks most glaring deficiency – faceoffs. With the acquisition of Handzus the Hawks now have two guys that can take PK faceoffs.
A 2nd line center would be nice, but look at the stats. The Hawks are 2nd in the league in scoring, 1st in 5-on-5 scoring. They are doing very well on offense. An upgrade at 2C would be more of a luxury than a necessity.
With this move, the Hawks are an improved team. Well done Stan. Don’t stop now.
He won’t be on the second line. So who do you bump for him? Shaw? No. Krugs? No. Where does he fit? Kind of confused by this move.
They still need some hitters.
I agree Mox. While he is good at face offs, where is he playing? Is he just going to be used for PK’s?
He can’t play with the third line and if they put him on the forth line, where does Kruger now play?
I guess if Tab is correct that Kruger might be moved up to 2C, it makes sense, but then where is Bolland playing then?
Hitters? Where did they place in 2010 in hitting?
Thought I read that Shaw would move back to wing. My guess is that this is the end of the Jamal Mayers era. He can’t seem to get out of Q’s doghouse.
It’ll definitely be interesting to see where he plays. Is he gonna bump 65 to the wing? Getting an obvious 2 would have been so much easier to assess, ha. Just plug-n-play.
Was Q coaching him in St Lou?
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Dave,
In ’10 they had Buff, Eager, Burrish, etc. Who do they have now that will intimidate? Who do they have now that would take Buffs role against a player like Pronger in the Cup?
Morrison,
Vermette?? Is that a possibility?
yep he played for Q in st Louis. Word is he is slow and is done. Take it for what’s it worth.
thanks, always
I guess the obvious place, knowing Q, is everywhere for awile, 2,3,and 4
To hose who say the Hawks need more hitting: they had 1555 hits in 2009-10, ranking 25th! What did that get them in the post-season?
Bowmam just told the media he doesn’t anticipate trading any players off the current roster. So no, Vermette isn’t coming. And if he isn’t moving anyone off the current roster, Yandle and any other legit top-four defensemen aren’t coming either. Bowman said his goal is to keep the current team together and add to it.
The Buff hit on Pronger turned the series. I think that is what Mox is asking. We are overall a tougher team than the last two years, kinda like ’10. People are Carcillo haters here and he certainly has been bad since coming back from injury but don’t sleep on him come playoff time.
No Dave, obviously you need to hit people to win in the NHL! Don’t you remember the Flyers in 2010? Oh wait. Don’t you remember the Canucks in 2011? Oh wait. Don’t you remember New Jersey in 2012? Oh wait! (going back further) Don’t you remember Detroit in 2009? Oh wait.
2008 was the last time the team that did the most hitting won the Stanley Cup.
Handzus will play the John Madden roll of 2010 Fame. He will take faceoffs, play 10 minutes a game, and get his name on the cup.
Yes, the big splashy name would be a lot cooler, but I believe.
Good depth pick up. Now Q can roll all 4 lines a little more evenly for the rest of the season. Hawks have the luxury of being able to do that most nights now, with the addition of Handzus.
Danault and McNeill were just brought up to the IceHogs. Will see ’em play tomorrow night.
This feels like the Brendan Morrison trade. A center who can win draws. Maybe someone who can light a fire under the ass of Bolland or any other bottom 6-er who is having a bad couple games. But ultimately, way past his prime and not someone who makes an impact on the roster.
My guess is he plays wing on 4th line. Then takes big draws when needed.
Regarding Hawks physicality—you don’t have to take runs at people to be effective in the physical game. Saad/Toews/Hossa absolutely grind people and can play physical in front of the net. Stal/Shaw/Bicks have been consistently taking the body. And our 4th line, they can actually A) shut down another line or B) score.
5 on 5 we have a league leading 50 goals against and a team +1.1. So I’m not really going to question how our team handles physical play. Let’s get healthy and get into the playoffs and then see how we weather the Ducks or Kings in a 7 game series.
BREAKING: LA acquires Robyn Regehr for two 2nd round pick
St. Louis acquires Jay Bouwmeester for a conditional 1st round pick and 2 prospects.
Many here pegged this move based on Bowman’s history…and they were right…this is it…he might look to add a savvy, tougher, stay-at-home DMan, but this is it…one of the reasons this is it, is that to finally make the move for a true 2nd line Centre would be admitting that the Hawks have needed a true 2nd line centre bringing judgement as to why did he wait so long…so like anyone with a plan, and an ego, he is following the plotted course.
The Hawks have the talent to win the Cup all we have to do is execute better, blah, blah, blah, blah…
And Bowman would be right, to a degree. But Stanley is banking EVERYTHING on uncertain scenarios…ONE, that when Sharp and Hossa come back, they will be healthy and STAY healthy…no one can know that. TWO, that our goaltending stays strong right through the playoffs…and there’s no reason to think that it wouldn’t because playoff hockey is about riding ONE goalie…it doesn’t matter who it is…so to that end, Bowman is thinking that even if Crawford slumps, Emery has shown incredible consistency this season, and he will take up the mantle…and again, he’s likely right.
But its a risk. The LA Kings last year didn’t necessarily have to go out and get Jeff Carter to fill a “void” at centre at the deadline…they were already deep at Centre…they went out and got Carter to send a message to the team that we think you can win it all now, and to play against any potential injuries…the Kings stayed healthy, they bought into the message and won the Cup.
The Hawks are similar…the players, coaches and Mgt. already know this team can win now…so they don’t really need to send any message to the players, but they are taking a terrible chance against injury. We have all seen what happened to this roster with the loss of 2 stars…it got thin in a hurry. But Bowman is likely thinking that the injuries happened already, all we have to do is let them fully heal, and that part of the game is over and done with. Maybe, maybe not.
Handzus is a good, smart, strong hockey player…but he is NOT a 2nd line centre, and will never play that role again. He is our new 4th line centre, and 2nd PK centre. This means that the Hawks can send out at ANY TIME during the playoffs, 2 of the best face-off men in the league…for over a decade Handzus has taken more face-offs than any other centre in the league usually winning between 52 and 56%. This will be crucial for the Hawks going forward, and as such it was an astute move by Bowman.
But to trust Dave Bolland to get better in the 2nd line Centre role is taking a big chance…our 2nd line is a killer, both to the opposition and to us. Because when that line doesn’t gain possession, it falls back into chase mode, and they are not particularly good or interested in doing this. Therefore it is imperative that this line wins face-offs…Bolland, Kruger, Shaw, any of these guys that they send out to fill that role have not proven that they can accomplish this task…and in the playoffs there are a lot of teams that can field lines who thrive on puck possession…just look at ANA with the Getzlaf line…if they get possession against the Bolland line, they don’t give it up until they have had a glorious scoring chance.
So it is what it is…Bowman is staying close to home, and adding the little tweak that he thinks this roster needs to put it over the top. Is he right? Only time will tell…but for such a conservative, safe guy, he sure is taking a lot big risks IMO by not buying an insurance policy…and if it cost a draft pick plus two prospects (say Pirri and Olsen), where are they going to play anyways in the near future?
Let’s hope it works out. Handzus is a quality guy.
You cant compare the Hawks of this year to the Kings of last year…. No way..
SB is rolling the dice and hopefully it doesn’t come back to bite him. He loves his prospects and won’t trade any of them even though some will never play for the hawks.
I hope it works out but I don’t believe it will. I hope I’m wrong.
“He was benched the last six games as the Sharks tried to get more speed in the lineup.”
That’s encouraging!
He doesn’t improve the power play at all either, which clearly is a major issue.
Jeff, spot on. That’s the exact hit I was referring to, JS and Dave are high if they think you don’t need hits like that in the playoffs. We currently have nobody on the roster that can/will deliver those, except for Carcillo. JS, you rattled all the teams that led the league in hits and failed to win the cup. We don’t need to lead the league in hits. But we have to he able to deliver blows like the one Buff delivered. The Kings last year, and Boston two years ago, both had those capabilities.
Tab,
Is your gut telling you Stan is done making moves?
I like this move. It wasn’t at the top of my wish list but this clearly strenghtens us up the middle.
I don’t care what his stats were with San Jose this year they have clearly struggled to find an identity and have nowhere near the talent the Hawks have. I have a feeling Zeus will will fit in wherever he is asked to play and be a positive addition.
I thought this might be an April Fools joke. Rental player? A rental stiff!!
Yup Sr Brad. Bowman will look like a genius if Hawks win the Cup, a bum if they don’t. He is taking the risk that Hawks have their full roster and no one else gets hurt. A Big Risk!
This is not a bad move. If it turns out to be the only move then I surely hope Stan was told he was betting his job. Anything less than a Cup and he should be sent down the road.
He will fulfill his purpose and win faceoffs, gonna be a good fit with the current roster. Only thing I’m pissed about is that he is no longer rocking his mullet! That thing was a beast by itself.
Rodrigo, What is his purpose? Whose roster spot will he take? Center or wing?
The Hawks can skate shoot and score with any team in the league, but they have two weaknesses that have been apparent in all their losses and will be magnified come playoff time when the games get tougher……….Faceoffs and playing behind their own net. If he’s anything like John Madden, adding Hanzus helps solve the first but I am more worried about the second. The Hawks just don’t seem committed to playing the body and separating a man from the puck behind their own net and it’s maddening. Anaheim has absolutely killed them when the puck is in their own end. Coach Q needs to find a way to fix this before they play for my Cup.
Yes, the Hawks beat the Flyers because of the hit Byfuglien put on Pronger. Maybe they could have just had Eager drop the gloves to change the momentum!
If the Hawks get kicked out in the first round, Bowman won’t lose his job. He obviously has a long term image in mind that his bosses approve of, otherwise they would probably be telling him to give up the farm for the Cup.
Brad you couldn’t be more wrong about the Kings aquiring Carter. They needed a scorer and if they didn’t pick him up they probably wouldn’t have even made the playoffs.
What a waste of a 4th round draft pick. Handzus would be a 3rd or 4th liner on a mediocre AHL team. I’m aware he is good on draws, but why not give up a little more for someone who can take draws and will also contribute to scoring? All the other contenders for the cup are making REAL moves…. not picking up another teams garbage. If this is the only move the hawks make, it will bite them in the ass in the playoffs. I figured it would take another solid slightly offensive D man and an additional scoring threat up front to make the hawks a Cup team
Charles B… You couldn’t run the front office of a Jungle B team.
JS…they could have picked up a winger/power forward to do that…but they got an extra centre, when they didn’t need to, because you can NEVER be too deep at centre. In terms of skilled, balanced centres on our roster…Toews and Shaw play a balanced game…Bolly and Kruger are more defensive, and only Toews wins face-offs…that is why Bowman traded for Handzus…but he hasn’t been a balanced centre in years…this is why going out and getting Handzus and say Derek Roy would have made supreme sense…but Bowman believes in Bolland and the existing team, and is saying here’s your face-off help, now win a Cup…
Brad – let’s also remember the Hawks don’t have a 2nd or 3rd round pick in this summer’s draft. d. Roy – as a rental – is not worth a 1st round pick, and Bowman was right to not pay that for him. With that being said, there are picks going in all of the deals taking place, which could make Bowman’s job tougher if sellers want early round picks.
With that being said, Handzus doesn’t need to dress every night just like Rozsival doesn’t need to dress every night. He needs to be healthy and effective and win faceoffs in the postseason. That’s it. If he does that, the deal makes sense. If he doesn’t… Bowman didn’t give much up.
Put Hoss w/ Handzus-Saad ( Hoss has played w/ him before, and 2 fast wings to make up for Handz lack of speed…
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now ya got 4 lines…. who can skate and fill the net…
kinda wish Morin would have got 4-6 more games on bottom line… The guy has Sharp like shooting- but not the best skater… put him w/ 2 centers- 36-16 against 4th liners- maybe he scores a lot!!!
wall – stop it. Handzus between Hossa & Saad? You’re recreating the Brunette-Toews-Kane line from a year ago. Don’t need an anchor w/ those two.
Reality is that Handzus is a big body that wins faceoffs who will likely shift on the 3rd/4th lines. That’s it. If you’ve got him as a top-six center, you haven’t watching him play in 7 years.
Tab, If Handz is Bruno slow…. get him the HELL out NOW!!!!
Really, not kidding! If the Hawks picked up another slow ass (As SLOW as Bruno or Scott)… well you know the saying fool me once… fool me twice, shame on me!!!
He can’t be that slow- maybe he is as slow as Hayes… but not Bruno… please tell me you are exaggerating!!!! Please!!! Then he is nothing but a guy to win a face-off on 4th line so 16-67 can kick it around behind the net for 20-30 seconds- until the 1st line gets back on the ice!!!
Tab Zeus is not Bruno Slow. He isn’t even Hayes slow. If you go back and look at his 2 points this year (Ironically they came against the Hawks) you see a guy that will fit in very nicely wherever he is asked to play.
Zeus is a responsible center first and makes all the plays he is suppposed to and help the D out first. Go watch the assist that he got to Wingels on San Jose’s 2nd goal against the Hawks in the Feb 5th game and tell me he wouldn’t get at least 1 maybe 2 of those type assists every game playing inbetween Saad and Hossa or even in between Sharp and Kane.
Ryan, thx for the assist…
Once again Tab… if Zues is as slow as Bruno… he should be in the Ice-capades- not on the Hawks!!!