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In most offseasons, a team parting ways with a slowed down, aging veteran—as the Hawks did with Michal Handzus today—would not be all that newsworthy.
While I'm not sure exactly of the timing (and I haven't heard anything specific from a source), the move has to be looked at through the lens of arithmetic. Handzus was one of three pure centers on the Hawk roster (the other two being Jonathan Toews and Marcus Kruger), when by all rights, they should really have 4 (minimum) of them.
Say what you want about Handzus, but due—in fact—to the Hawks' lack of center depth, he was the de facto second line center much of the last two seasons.
And all the public rhetoric about the lightning in a bottle Shaw-Saad-Kane line of the 2014 playoffs, the team probably prefers Shaw on the wing or playing 3rd line center.
So, this move would seem to, in addition to giving 'Zus the opportunity to maybe display his wares prior to July 1, signal that the Hawks do intend to fortify the center position in short order, as I was told they fully intend to do.
We've discussed the possible candidates at length here, and there are likely more lurking under the radar. The fact is, as I pointed out in my last blog, this is a great summer for picking up a center via trade or free agency.
So, sit tight, I suspect there's more news coming before the draft.
All for now, and I'll let you know what I hear as soon as I hear it,
JJ