Coyotes’ Hanzal getting through contract uncertainty with a little help from a friend

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Martin Hanzal has never been in this situation before — a player who is nearing the end of his contract without a new one in the works. Fortunately for the Coyotes center, he knows a guy who has been in this situation many times before. Even better, that guy is a fellow countryman, a good friend and a teammate.

“What I’ve been telling him is it will work itself out,” said Coyotes right wing and fellow Czech Radim Vrbata, who has played for six NHL clubs. “It’s easy for me to say now, but it’s never easy and it’s not easy for him, especially because he has been here this whole time and he has given so much to this organization.”

Hanzal said Wednesday that as far as he knows, there is nothing happening on his contract talks with the Coyotes as he enters the final three months of the season, and the final six months of a five-year, $15.5 million deal.

“It’s kind of quiet right now,” he said. “We’ll see where it will be by the [trade] deadline; if that’s going to be the turning point.”

Coyotes general manager John Chayka voiced a similar opinion on Wednesday.

“There’s nothing new, but we’re open to all possibilities,” he said. “We’re trying to grow our group here, that’s the bottom line. We’ve got to get better here. Marty’s a big part of that right now.

“We’re not looking to do anything in the short term, but signing him is still a possibility.”

It’s also possible that Hanzal could be an attractive trade chip at the NHL’s Feb. 28 trade deadline.

“He’s a big matchup center,” Chayka said. “I’m sure there’s a need for that in the league. The demand would certainly be high if we do go that route but he’s a big part of our team and he helps the young players, the [Christian] Dvoraks and others fit in the right positions and play the right roles.”

What the Coyotes must weigh is how much they are willing to pay a soon-to-be 30-year old (Feb. 20) matchup center with a history of back problems that has not played more than 65 games in a full season since 2009-10 and has never recorded more than 41 points in  season.

The Coyotes are already deficient at the center position and it’s hard to say how much longer Dylan Strome will need to develop. How much more would they struggle without Hanzal’s ability to match up against the Western Conference’s big centers? How much would they miss his net presence and ability to create space for others?

On the flip side, will he be a major factor when this team matures and is ready to contend for a playoff spot? How much would his new deal impact the team’s ability to make other moves?

“That’s the balance that we’re looking at,” Chayka said. “With him, it’s just a balance of short-term and long-term goals. This young group is a group that’s going to be here a long time so we want to build a culture of winning and Marty helps that.

“But the long term is he’s a pending UFA and we don’t have a deal in place so what does that mean? Is there an opportunity to maximize your asset that way? Those are the two avenues we could go.”

Hanzal admits the uncertainty has impacted him.

“I think the first month or month and a half I was kind of struggling,” he said. “I was way overthinking everything. Now I’m trying to stay ahead of it a little bit and not think about it because it’s something I can’t control anyway.

“If I don’t re-sign here I would be disappointed but I’d have to move on. It sucks, but it’s something I can’t control. It’s part of hockey so I have to focus on hockey and my team.”

While Hanzal’s production (eight goals, 14 points) is off last year’s points pace, coach Dave Tippett commended the 10-year Coyote for blocking out as much as he can.

“I’ve been in that situation, too. It weighs on him,” Tippett said. “He’s putting in some real hard minutes right now and he’s competing hard. I give him a lot of credit. If it’s bothering him he hasn’t shown that at all.”

Vrbata has seen it, but he’s trying to help Hanzal see the bigger picture.

“I can see how it’s getting to him or how anxious he is, but it’s going to work out one way or the other,” said Vrbata, who couldn’t work out a deal with the Coyotes after the 2013-14 season and then signed a two-year, $10 million deal with Vancouver. “He’s in a good situation because he’s a good player and he’s still not old. There aren’t that many players like him in the league so whatever happens, it will be a good thing for him.”

Coyotes at Ducks

When: 8 p.m., Friday

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.

TV: FOX Sports Arizona

Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM

Records: Coyotes — 11-22-5. Ducks — 20-12-8.

Injury report: Coyotes — C Brad Richardson (broken right tibia and fibula) and LW Max Domi (hand) are out indefinitely. RW Ryan White (lower body) is on IR. Ducks — C Ryan Getzlaf (lower body) missed practice Friday and is doubtful. F Nate Thompson (Achilles) is on long-term injured reserve. D Simon Despres (concussion) is out indefinitely. D Clayton Stoner (abdominal surgery) is out three to five more weeks.

Scouting the Ducks: Anaheim has won two in a row and was tied with San Jose for the Pacific Division leads entering play Thursday. … C Ryan Kesler leads the team with 34 points (15 goals). F Rickard Rakell leads the team with 16 goals after signing a six-year, $22.8 million deal on the day of the season opener. … The Ducks have the league’s third-ranked power play at 23.3 percent.

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