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May 30, 2007

Coyotes ink Hanzal to entry-level deal

The Phoenix Coyotes have signed center Martin Hanzal to a three-year entry-level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Hanzal, 20, was the Coyotes' top selection (1^st round, 17^th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

This season, the 6-foot-5, 208-pound Hanzal registered 26-59-85 and 94 penalty minutes (PIM) in 60 games with Red Deer in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Hanzal ranked T-5th in the league in scoring and 3rd in assists.  The Pisek, Czech Republic native also led all WHL rookies and his team in both scoring and assists.  In six playoff games, he recorded 2-7-9 and 19 PIM.

Hanzal represented the Czech Republic at the 2007 World Junior Championships, collecting 2-1-3 in 6 games.  Hanzal also registered two assists for the Czech Republic at the 2006 World Junior Championships.

In March, Hanzal was ranked 30th among The Hockey News'Top 50 Prospects in the publication's annual "Future Watch" edition. The Hockey News' Top 50 Prospects were selected by a panel of 22 NHL scouts.

The Coyotes also re-signed defenseman Brendan Bell to a one-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Bell, 24, played 14 games with the Coyotes last season, registering 0-2-2 and 8 penalty minutes (PIM). Bell was acquired along with a 2^nd round draft choice in 2008 NHL Entry Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Yanic Perreault and a 5^th round draft choice in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft on February 27, 2007. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Bell also collected 1-4-5 and 19 PIM in 31 games with Toronto last season.

In 2005-06, Bell played 1 game for the Maple Leafs and 70 games with the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies, recording 6-37-43 and 99 PIM.

In 46 career NHL games, Bell has registered 1-6-7 and 27 PIM with Phoenix and Toronto. Bell was selected by Toronto in the 3rd round (65th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.