Pardon the obligatory Zoolander reference but it seems appropriate. As the media swirls around the idea that young talent always want out of the Desert and that this franchise is a graveyard of top picks, we have somebody decide to stay for the long haul.

Martin Hanzal has signed a five year extension with a cap hit of 3.1 million per year.

For a player who is quickly becoming one of the best 3rd line centers in the league I find that price to be very solid. He might be forced into the 2nd line role this year though so it might be an opportunity to show some of his offensive potential.


"I feel awesome right now,” Hanzal said about his new deal, which will begin after this season. “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."


Last season, the 6-foot-6, 236 pound Hanzal appeared in 61 regular season games for the Coyotes, registering 16-10-26 and 54 penalty minutes (PIM). He established new career highs in goals (16), game-winning goals (5), power play goals (7) and hits (147). Hanzal appeared in all four games of the Western Conference Quarter-Final against Detroit, recording his first career postseason goal along with two assists and eight PIM.


I love his play and I'm very happy that he has been retained for so long at such a reasonable rate.

Thanks for reading.
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