DALLAS — It may have taken 37 games, but this is what Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill had in mind when he signed Martin Hanzal to a three-year, $14.25 million back in July.
When the Stars needed a big penalty kill in overtime Hanzal was on the ice. When they needed a face-off win, Hanzal delivered with 13 victories on 18 opportunities. And he even scored a goal that was quite crucial as the Stars picked up a rare win against one of the top three teams in the Central Division.
“He acts and behaves like a winner. I know he hasn’t had a lot of that for a little while. But that’s not the way he plays, that’s not the way he competes. He plays right through competition,” Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. “And that’s going to help our leaders learn from him. I think if our leaders, if they looked at him, they could learn a lot because he has a disposition on the ice that he is going to go a little bit further than you are.”
While Hitchcock has been complimentary, Hanzal has had a disappointing season.
Injuries have limited him to 25 games, which hasn’t helped the outside perception that he’s way too fragile for a 6-foot-6, 226-pound human being.
On top of that when he has played he’s looked slower, hasn’t been able to keep up with the speed of today’s NHL, and was taking valuable minutes away from Radek Faksa.
But on Saturday the Stars may have found the ideal fit for Hanzal, especially if the veteran center is willing to accept that role full-time.
Faksa played 18 minutes and 12 seconds, the fourth straight game he’s had more minutes than Hanzal (16 minutes, 31 seconds), and when the Stars needed defensive-minded forward to secure a victory they were equally fresh and adept in their own zone.
Add in a more well-rounded version of Tyler Seguin, who has become proficient defensively in the Stars system, and perhaps the Stars have the trio of centers they can each carry 17-plus minutes and allow Jamie Benn to move back to the wing.
The key for all of this is buy-in from Hanzal, is he willing to accept a role as a bottom-six center when he feels he’s at 100 percent?
When the Stars first signed him, I wouldn’t have believed that. At his introductory media availability Hanzal talked about how he was brought in to be a big-minute center, he didn’t like playing a downgraded role with Minnesota last season.
Perhaps winning cures that itch. Maybe seeing what the Stars can be when he plays that role and the matchups it affords him, maybe that will lead to the proper buy-in from Hanzal once he truly is at 100 percent.
“I feel better, I still got a little better coming in, but I’m just glad we are winning right now,” Hanzal said after the game.
Maybe it’s a one-off Christmas miracle and I’m overly optimistic. Maybe it’s the start of something that could fit well for the rest of the season. Either way, it’s something to build on when the Stars come out of the Christmas break.
Justin Schmidt says
Idk man I’m liking benn at center. Him and radulov have excellent chemistry and I think with him at center it forces him to be more competitive and battle more. I believe that’s why we’re seeing more “beast mode benn” and Seguin is probably our best all around player. He’s matured alot this season and is really becoming an elite player.
Sean Shapiro says
I can see your point, but if you are trying to find a system that works best with Faksa, Hanzal, and Seguin you need to get back to Benn at left wing full-time in my opinion. There just aren’t enough minutes to go around, and you have to make the most of it.