According to a report last week from Tomas Prokop, a Slovakian sports journalist, Michal Handzus has decided to hang up his skates. His retirement became official in an announcement last Friday.

Handzus, a 1995 fourth-round draft pick with the St. Louis Blues, began his professional career with the IceCats during the 1997-98 season. Handzus spent one whole season with the club, racking up a total of 29 Goals and 71 points in 80 games. He represented Worcester at the 1998 All-Star Game and was named AHL Player of the Week for the week of April 5, 1998.

After his one season in Worcester, he was promoted to the NHL, where he spent most of his career and never looked back.

Handzus went on to play in over 1000 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Handzus scored an absolute beauty in double overtime in an elimination game for the Blackhawks in the 2014 Western Conference Final. With his goal, the ‘Hawks would come back in Games 6 and 7 and advance to the Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks then went on to win the Stanley Cup in 6 games.

 

Handzus sat out the entire 2017-18 season and was later named an assistant coach for the Slovakian National Team.