Handzus to Blackhawks

[Deebo]

No word on the return.

Per Bob McKenzie.

 

[AvroArrow]

"The San Jose Sharks have traded forward Michal Handzus to the Chicago Blackhawks. In exchange for the 36-year-old centre, the Sharks will receive a fourth-round draft pick"

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=419610

 

[cw]

Hard to gauge this for assessing the trade market as Handzus has slowed and reportedly not played well for SJ this season. 2 pts in 28 games, -9 (team worst). He's been in decline for a couple of seasons. Still good on faceoffs and shootout but the shootout won't help them win playoff games. Sounds like a pure depth deal.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Bolland has moved from the third to the second line for most of this season I believe, Handzus should give them some reliable defensive minutes in the playoffs on a third of fourth line.

 

[bustaheims]

Real_ESPNLeBrun: As @KKurzCSN pointed out, the 4th round pick SJ is getting for Handzus was originally a Sharks one. Getting back their own

 

[cw]

Bolland has moved from the third to the second line for most of this season I believe, Handzus should give them some reliable defensive minutes in the playoffs on a third of fourth line.

I haven't seen much of the Hawks this season. But in years gone by, I've liked Boland (certainly prior to injury).

Toews has won 60.3% of his faceoffs this season. But the rest of the three centers, including Boland, have not done better than 45.1%. So it looks like they're trying to get a Steckel type for faceoffs (Handzus has  won 55.6% of his draws).