FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, October 6, 2011

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Martin Hanzal to a five-year contract extension. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Martin Hanzal

“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 centers.”

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.

The 24-year-old native of Pisek, Czech Republic has spent his entire five-year career with Phoenix; appearing in 288 career regular season games, registering 46-79-125 and 226 PIM. In 11 postseason contests, he has posted 1-5-6 and 10 PIM.

Hanzal was the Coyotes’ first choice in the first round (17th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft.