Phoenix Coyotes happy with Martin Hanzal, give 5 year extension worth $15.5 million -NHL News Update
Phoenix Coyotes signed their young power centre player, Martin Hanzal, to a five-year extension on Thursday, October 6, 2011, before the beginning of their 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) season opener on Saturday, worth an estimated $15.5 million
with an annual cap hit of $3.1 million.
The contract comes as a major improvement from Hanzal’s previous deal with Phoenix Coyotes which he signed before the 2010-2011 season worth $3.6 million.
Phoenix general manager, Don Maloney, made the announcement about Hanzal’s contract extension.
"We are very pleased to sign Martin to a five-year contract extension", said Maloney. "Martin is a big, strong, skilled center and a core member of our team. He contributes at both ends of the ice and we are confident he will continue to improve to become
one of the NHL's best two-way centres".
Picked as the 17th overall draft pick during round-one of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by Phoenix Coyotes, Hanzal will be entering his fifth straight season with the Western Conference franchise when they face-off against San Jose Sharks.
Officially, the deal will begin after the new 2011-2012 season comes to an end next year, which would have made him a restricted free agent anyways, but for Hanzal, it is certainly an exciting moment to have secured a long term spot on the team.
"I feel awesome right now", Hanzal said. "I know I will be here for the next six years, including this one, so it's great… I love it in Phoenix, I love the team and I love the coaches. I want to stay here as long as I can so we came up with the five-year
deal. I think it's a good number for them and for me, too".
In total, Hanzal has played in 288 major league games so far and boasts a record of 125 points (46 goals, 79 assists) and an impressive 125 minutes in penalty time.
Last season, the 24-year-old was limited to playing only 61 games but still managed to pot 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists). He saw career highs during his rookie season by putting up 35 points (8 goals, 27 assists).
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