View source for Michal Handzuš

{{Short description|Slovak ice hockey player (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image = Michal Handzus.JPG
| caption = Handzuš with the [[Los Angeles Kings]] in 2009
| image_size = 230px
| position = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Centre]]
| shoots = Left
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 219
| ntl_team = Slovakia
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|3|11}}
| birth_place = [[Banská Bystrica]], [[Czechoslovakia]]
| career_start = 1995
| career_end = 2017
| draft = 101st overall
| draft_year = 1995
| draft_team = [[St. Louis Blues]]
| played_for = [[HC ’05 Banská Bystrica]]<br>[[HK Poprad]]<br>[[St. Louis Blues]]<br>[[Arizona Coyotes|Phoenix Coyotes]]<br>[[Philadelphia Flyers]]<br>[[HKm Zvolen]]<br>[[Chicago Blackhawks]]<br>[[Los Angeles Kings]]<br>[[San Jose Sharks]]
}}

'''Michal Handzuš''' ({{IPA|sk|ˈmixal ˈɦandzuʂ}}; born 11 March 1977) is a [[Slovakia|Slovak]] former professional [[ice hockey]] [[centre (ice hockey)|centre]]. Handzuš played for hometown club, [[HC ’05 Banská Bystrica]] of the [[Slovak Extraliga]] before joining the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) in 1998. Handzuš played for the [[St. Louis Blues]], [[Arizona Coyotes|Phoenix Coyotes]], [[Philadelphia Flyers]], [[Los Angeles Kings]], [[San Jose Sharks]] and the [[Chicago Blackhawks]], with whom he won the [[Stanley Cup]] with in [[2013 Stanley Cup Finals|2013]].

Handzuš represented [[Slovakia men's national ice hockey team|Slovakia]] at several international ice hockey tournaments, including the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]], [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2010]] and [[Ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2014 Winter Olympics]].

==Playing career==
Handzuš played in the 1991 [[Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament]] with a youth team from [[Poprad]], Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-02-01|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Handzuš, nicknamed "Zeus",<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Holka |first1=Marek |last2=Takáč |first2=Adam |date=18 May 2023 |title=Boris Valábik Poviem to škaredo – naši strelci sa musia prebudiť |url=https://www.postoj.sk/130609/poviem-to-skaredo-nasi-strelci-sa-musia-prebudit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518172511/https://www.postoj.sk/130609/poviem-to-skaredo-nasi-strelci-sa-musia-prebudit |archive-date=18 May 2023 |access-date=18 May 2023 |website=[[:sk:Konzervatívny denník Postoj|Konzervatívny denník Postoj]]}}</ref> was drafted 101st overall in the [[1995 NHL Entry Draft]] by the [[St. Louis Blues]], playing with them for two-and-a-half seasons from {{NHL Year|1998}} to {{NHL Year|2000}}. The Blues' line of [[Pavol Demitra]], [[Ľuboš Bartečko]] and Handzuš were known as the [[List of ice hockey linemates|"Slovak Pack" line]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=516424 |title=The Olympians: Pavol Demitra – Vancouver Canucks – Features |publisher=Canucks.nhl.com |access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref> Handzuš finished second in voting for the [[Frank J. Selke Trophy]], awarded annually to the NHL's top defensive-forward, following the {{NHL Year|1999}} season.<ref>{{cite web |title=1999-00 NHL Awards Voting |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards/voting-2000.html#selke |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=August 26, 2024}}</ref>

Handzuš was traded on 13 March 2001, along with [[Ladislav Nagy]], [[Jeff Taffe]] and two first-round draft picks, to the [[Arizona Coyotes|Phoenix Coyotes]] in exchange for [[Keith Tkachuk]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Coyotes Acquire Handzus , Nagy and Taffe from St . Louis for Tkachuk |url=http://www.phoenixcoyotes.com/news/pressreleases/20010313.1.shtml |website=Phoenix Coyotes |access-date=May 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010619173644/http://www.phoenixcoyotes.com/news/pressreleases/20010313.1.shtml |archive-date=June 19, 2001 |date=March 13, 2001}}</ref> Handzuš then spent two seasons with Phoenix.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

On 12 June 2002, Handzuš was traded along with [[Robert Esche]] to the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] in exchange for [[Brian Boucher]] and a third-round draft pick.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flyers Acquire Center Michal Handzus and goaltender Robert Esche from Phoenix for Brian Boucher |url=http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com:80/pressbox/archive/526.asp |website=Philadelphia Flyers |access-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803223304/http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com:80/pressbox/archive/526.asp |archive-date=August 3, 2002 |date=June 12, 2002}}</ref> On 5 December 2002, he became only the second player in NHL history to score a penalty shot goal in overtime. In the {{NHL Year|2003}} season, he finished second on the Flyers with 58 points and later signed a three-year contract extension with Philadelphia during the ensuing off-season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flyers Re-Sign Michal Handzus to New Contract |url=http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com:80/pressbox/archive/1693.asp |website=Philadelphia Flyers |access-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040808054713/http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com:80/pressbox/archive/1693.asp |archive-date=August 8, 2004 |date=August 6, 2004}}</ref> During the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]], he played for the [[HKm Zvolen]], which reached the playoff finals in the [[Slovak Extraliga]].{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

On 4 August 2006, Handzuš was traded to the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] in exchange for [[Kyle Calder]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Flyers Acquire Left Wing Kyle Calder From Chicago |url=http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=435347 |website=Philadelphia Flyers |access-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129063346/http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=435347 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |date=August 4, 2006}}</ref> Only eight games into his season with Chicago, however, Handzuš suffered a torn [[anterior cruciate ligament]] (ACL), which sidelined him for the remainder of the {{NHL Year|2006}} season.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

On 2 July 2007, Handzuš signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the [[Los Angeles Kings]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=212558 |title=Kings ink Nagy, Handzus, Preissing, Calder |publisher=[[The Sports Network]] |access-date=28 November 2009 | date = 3 April 2010}}</ref>

On 1 July 2011, Handzuš signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the [[San Jose Sharks]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharks Sign Handzuš To Two-Year Contract Worth $5 Million|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370637| publisher = [[The Sports Network]] |access-date=2 July 2011 | date = 2 July 2011}}</ref> During the [[2012–13 NHL lockout|lockout]]-shortened [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13 season]], on 1 April 2013, Handzuš was traded back to Chicago in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blackhawks acquire Handzus from Sharks for draft pick | publisher = [[The Sports Network]]|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=419610|date=1 April 2013 | access-date = 2013-04-11}}</ref>

[[File:Michal Handzus Blackhawks.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Handzuš with the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] in October 2013]]
On 24 June 2013, Handzuš and the Blackhawks defeated the [[Boston Bruins]] 3–2 in Game 6 of the [[2013 Stanley Cup Finals]] to win the [[Stanley Cup]]. In the following off-season, on 5 July, Handzuš re-signed to a one-year contract to remain with the team. On 19 March 2014, he played in his [[List of NHL players with 1000 games played|1,000th career NHL game]].{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

On 28 May 2014, with the Blackhawks facing elimination in Game 5 of the [[2014 Stanley Cup playoffs#Western Conference Final|Western Conference Finals]], Handzuš scored a game-winning goal in double-overtime against Los Angeles Kings, the eventual Stanley Cup champions. On 16 June, after the Blackhawks had been eliminated from playoff contention, the team announced that they would not be re-signing Handzuš after the season. He subsequently became an unrestricted free agent on 1 July.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blackhawks to Part Ways with Michal Handzus | date = 16 June 2014| publisher = NBC Chicago|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/madhouse-enforcer/Report-Blackhawks-to-Part-Ways-with-Michal-Handzus-263314221.html|access-date=16 June 2014 }}</ref>

==Management career==
Post-playing career, Handzuš joined the leadership of the [[Slovak Ice Hockey Federation]], but resigned in September 2022 after the organization chose to continue allowing national team members to play in the [[Kontinental Hockey League|KHL]] despite the ongoing [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] saying, "It is a fundamental value issue for me, and that is why I cannot imagine my further work in this direction of the organization,” in a statement posted to Twitter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Slovak hockey player Handzuš resigned from the leadership of the hockey association| date=14 September 2022| publisher=[[Denník N|Deník N]]|language=Czech|url=https://denikn.cz/minuta/961258/|access-date=16 September 2022}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|[[Regular season]]
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|[[Playoffs]]
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! Team
! League
! GP !! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]] !! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]] !! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]] !! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| 1993–94
| [[ŠK Iskra Banská Bystrica]]
| SVK U20
| 40 || 23 || 36 || 59 || —
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1994–95 Slovak 1. Liga season|1994–95]]
| ŠK Iskra Banská Bystrica
| [[Slovak 1.Liga|SVK-2]]
| 22 || 15 || 14 || 29 || 10
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1995–96
| Iskra Zlatý Bažant Banská Bystrica
| SVK U20
| 6 || 6 || 7 || 13 || 4
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1995–96 Slovak Extraliga season|1995–96]]
| Iskra Zlatý Bažant Banská Bystrica
| [[Slovak Extraliga|SVK]]
| 19 || 3 || 1 || 4 || 8
| — || — || — || — || —
|- 
| [[1996–97 Slovak Extraliga season|1996–97]]
| [[HC ŠKP PS Poprad]]
| SVK
| 44 || 15 || 18 || 33 || 24
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1997–98 AHL season|1997–98]]
| [[Worcester IceCats]]
| [[American Hockey League|AHL]]
| 69 || 27 || 36 || 63 || 54
| 11 || 2 || 6 || 8 || 10
|-
| [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]]
| [[St. Louis Blues]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| 66 || 4 || 12 || 16 || 30
| 11 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 8
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1999–00 NHL season|1999–00]]
| St. Louis Blues
| NHL
| 82 || 25 || 28 || 53 || 44
| 7 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|- 
| [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]]
| St. Louis Blues
| NHL
| 36 || 10 || 14 || 24 || 12
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2000–01
| [[Phoenix Coyotes]]
| NHL
| 10 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 21
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]]
| Phoenix Coyotes
| NHL
| 79 || 15 || 30 || 45 || 34
| 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]]
| [[Philadelphia Flyers]]
| NHL
| 82 || 23 || 21 || 44 || 46
| 13 || 2 || 6 || 8 || 6
|-
| [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]]
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 82 || 20 || 38 || 58 || 82
| 18 || 5 || 5 || 10 || 10
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2004–05 Slovak Extraliga|2004–05]]
| [[HKm Zvolen]]
| SVK
| 33 || 14 || 24 || 38 || 34
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]]
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 73 || 11 || 33 || 44 || 38
| 6 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]]
| [[Chicago Blackhawks]]
| NHL
| 8 || 3 || 5 || 8 || 6
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]]
| [[Los Angeles Kings]]
| NHL
| 82 || 7 || 14 || 21 || 45
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]] 
| Los Angeles Kings
| NHL
| 82 || 18 || 24 || 42 || 32
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10]]
| Los Angeles Kings
| NHL
| 81 || 20 || 22 || 42 || 38
| 6 || 3 || 2 || 5 || 4
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11]]
| Los Angeles Kings
| NHL
| 82 || 12 || 18 || 30 || 20
| 6 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0
|-
| [[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12]]
| [[San Jose Sharks]]
| NHL
| 67 || 7 || 17 || 24 || 18
| 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2012–13 Slovak Extraliga season|2012–13]]
| HC '05 Banská Bystrica
| SVK
| 15 || 9 || 10 || 19 || 22
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13]]
| San Jose Sharks
| NHL
| 28 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 12
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2012–13
| Chicago Blackhawks
| NHL
| 11 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 4
| 23 || 3 || 8 || 11 || 6
|- 
| [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14]]
| Chicago Blackhawks
| NHL
| 59 || 4 || 12 || 16 || 16
| 19 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 8
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2014–15 Slovak Extraliga season|2014–15]]
| HC '05 Banská Bystrica
| SVK
| 22 || 7 || 11 || 18 || 16
| 18 || 3 || 9 || 12 || 2
|-
| [[2015–16 Slovak Extraliga season|2015–16]]
| HC '05 Banská Bystrica
| SVK
| 40 || 12 || 16 || 28 || 36
| 15 || 1 || 6 || 7 || 12
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2016–17 Slovak Extraliga season|2016–17]]
| HC '05 Banská Bystrica
| SVK
| 10 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 27
| 15 || 4 || 6 || 10 || 4
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | SVK totals
! 183 !! 61 !! 85 !! 146 !! 167
! 64 !! 13 !! 31 !! 44 !! 24
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! 1,009 !! 185 !! 298 !! 483 !! 498
! 116 !! 16 !! 30 !! 46 !! 52
|}
{{MedalTableTop|name=|Henrik Sedin Michal Handzus 2010 oly.jpg|220px|Handzuš (left) is knocked down by Swedish centre [[Henrik Sedin]] during the 2010 Winter Olympics.}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ih|SVK}} }}
{{MedalSport | [[Ice hockey]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 IIHF World Championship|2002 Sweden]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2000 IIHF World Championship|2000 Russia]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2012 IIHF World Championship|2012 Finland/Sweden]]|}}
{{MedalBottom}}

===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Event
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|-
| [[1995 IIHF European U18 Championship|1995]]||[[Slovakia men's national under-18 ice hockey team|Slovakia]]||[[IIHF European Junior Championships|EJC B]]||5||5||3||8||4
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1996]]||[[Slovakia men's national junior ice hockey team|Slovakia]]||[[IIHF World U20 Championship|WJC]]||6||0||3||3||2
|-
| [[1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1997]]||Slovakia||WJC||6||2||4||6||2
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2000 IIHF World Championship|2000]]||[[Slovakia men's national ice hockey team|Slovakia]]||[[Ice Hockey World Championships|WC]]||6||1||4||5||4
|-
| [[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2002]]||Slovakia||[[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|OG]]||2||1||0||1||6
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2002 IIHF World Championship|2002]]||Slovakia||WC||6||1||4||5||4
|-
| [[2005 IIHF World Championship|2005]]||Slovakia||WC||7||3||0||3||2
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2009 IIHF World Championship|2009]]||Slovakia||WC||6||0||4||4||6
|-
| [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2010]]||Slovakia||OG||7||3||3||6||0
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2011 IIHF World Championship|2011]]||Slovakia||WC||5||0||2||2||0
|-  
| [[2012 IIHF World Championship|2012]]||Slovakia||WC||8||2||5||7||0
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[Ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2014]]||Slovakia||OG||4||0||2||2||0
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan=3|Junior totals!!17!!7!!10!!17!!8
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan=3|Senior totals!!51!!11!!24!!35!!22
|}

==Awards and achievements==
This is the list of achievements of Michal Handzuš:<ref name="eliteprospects">{{cite web | url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=8683 | title=EliteProspects – Player info | publisher=EliteProspects | access-date=26 June 2013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:30%;"
|-
! Award
! Year(s)
|-
|[[American Hockey League|AHL]] Player of the Week || 5 April 1998
|-
| [[Slovak Extraliga]] All-Stars Team || [[2004–05 Slovak Extraliga season|2004–05]]
|-
|[[IIHF World Championship]] Medal || Gold: [[2002 IIHF World Championship|2002]], Silver: [[2000 IIHF World Championship|2000]], [[2012 IIHF World Championship|2012]]
|-
| [[Stanley Cup]] champion || [[2012–13 NHL season|2013]]
|}

==See also==
*[[Slovaks in the NHL]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Ice hockey stats}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060322150413/http://www.nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=2180 |title=Michal Handzuš at NHLPA |date=dmy}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com|michal-handzus}}
* {{SOŠV profile|michal-handzus}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Handzus, Michal}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:HC '05 Banská Bystrica players]]
[[Category:Chicago Blackhawks players]]
[[Category:HKM Zvolen players]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Kings players]]
[[Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Slovakia]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Banská Bystrica]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Flyers players]]
[[Category:HK Poprad players]]
[[Category:Phoenix Coyotes players]]
[[Category:San Jose Sharks players]]
[[Category:Stanley Cup champions]]
[[Category:St. Louis Blues draft picks]]
[[Category:St. Louis Blues players]]
[[Category:Slovak ice hockey centres]]
[[Category:Slovakia men's national ice hockey team coaches]]
[[Category:Worcester IceCats players]]
[[Category:Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in the United States]]
[[Category:21st-century Slovak sportsmen]]