Summer Assignment: What Is Michal Handzus’s 2013 Grade?

Michal Handzus

Regular Season-

Games-11

Goals-1

Assists-5

+/- +7

Post-Season

Games-23

Goals-3

Assists-8

+/- +7

Contract- Handzus signed a one year contract to stay with the Blackhawks for $1,000,000 in 2013-2014

Summary- Handzus was brought in 2 days before the trade deadline for one simple reason and that is the Hawks couldn’t win faceoffs unless your name was Jonathan Toews.  Handzus didn’t stand out during his 11 game regular season stint that made some wonder if he would even be playing in the playoffs, and if he did it would be on the 4th line.  Handzus did bring a veteran presence to the team, and though some nights he struggled he did win his fare amount of faceoffs.

The post-season was a surprise from the beginning with Joel Quenneville putting Handzus with the 2nd line which started out with Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane and ended with Marian Hossa.  It was quite ironic to me that everytime I wrote a post about how Handzus should be on the bench for some youth and speed in the lineup he would go and score a huge playoff goal.  Here is the biggest Handzus goal for me.

That goal sparked a three goal explosion and the Hawks were on their way to a comeback down 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.  Handzus after all the overtime games between the end of the Los Angeles Kings series and the start of the Boston Bruins series looked totally gassed, but he found a way in Game #4 on the road to score a short-handed goal that started the Hawks on their way to a crucial 6-5 road win to even the Finals.

Handzus still doesn’t fit the mold for the Hawks but either Q or Stan Bowman always like to have these type of guys on the roster.  Brandon Pirri will have a shot at #2 center, but when push comes to shove look for Q to put Handzus in that spot when he feels like it’s needed. Look for Handzus to get scratched 10-15 times minimum during the regular season.

Grade- My Grade for Handzus is a C+. He really wasn’t great much of the time but did shine when the lights were brightest and most needed!

What is your grade for Handzus?

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