Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.und.com
- Name: Christian Hanson
- Position: C
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 228 lbs
- Birthdate: 1986-03-10
- Eligible for Draft: 2004
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Venetia, Pennsylvania
- Acquired: Free agent signing, 2011
- Playing In: Pro
Christian Hanson
Prospect Grade: 5.5 B (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
Christian Hanson may be the son of Dave Hanson, who was one of the Hanson Brothers from the film “Slapshot,” but his game is quite different from what his now-legendary father’s game was during his playing days.
2004-05: Hanson enjoyed a stellar season with the Tri-City Storm that culminated with the USHL’s Curt Hammer Award, which is awarded to the player that best reflects the goals of the league and his team. Hanson led the Storm in scoring with 52 points (19 goals, 33 assists) in 60 appearances. He was also a member of Team USHL at the 2005 USHL Prospects/All-Star game.
2005-06: Hanson skated in 23 games for the University of Notre Dame as a freshman. He scored 1 goal with 2 assists and had a -2 plus minus with 14 PMs.
2006-07: Hanson skated in 33 of 42 games for Notre Dame as a sophomore as the Fighting Irish won the CCHA regular season and playoff titles. He scored 6 goals with 2 assists and was +8 with 24 PMs in a lower line role. Notre Dame's hopes for a national championship ended with a loss to conference rival Michigan State in the Midwest Regional Final.
2007-08: Hanson skated in all 47 games for Notre Dame as a junior and finished the season with an offensive flourish; scoring two goals against New Hampshire and a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over Michigan State as the Irish captured the NCAA West Regional. The Fighting Irish lost to Boston College in the Frozen Four Final game after defeating CCHA-rival Michigan, 5-4, in overtime in the semifinal. Hanson ended the season with 13 goals and 9 assists and was +5 with 57 PMs.
2008-09: Hanson made his pro debut with the Maple Leafs, appearing in five games with Toronto after signing a free agent contract in March 2009 following his senior season at Notre Dame. Hanson joined the Leafs after Notre Dame's surprising loss to Bemidji State in the NCAA tournament and scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was -1 with 2 PMs. During the college season he was the third-leading scorer for a FIghting Irish team that won the CCHA regular season and playoff championships. Hanson scored 16 goals with 15 assists and was +11 with 28 PMs in 40 games. Hanson scored six times on the power play, tallied five game-winning goals and was named to the CCHA Second All-Star Team.
2009-10: Hanson split his first pro season between Toronto's AHL affiliate Marlies and the NHL club. Hanson scored 2 goals with 5 assists and was -2 with 16 PMs in 31 games with the Leafs; averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time. Hanson opened the season with the Marlies and was one of the team's leading scorers and named to the AHL All-Star Game. In 38 AHL games he scored 12 goals with 19 assists and 35 PMs. Hanson's +3 plus/minus was one of the third-best amongst Marlies regulars on a team that missed the playoffs. Hanson was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Maple Leafs in August 2010.
2010-11: Hanson's second season with the Toronto organization was disappointing; he saw action in just six games with the Leafs, with limited ice time, and played more of a two-way role for the AHL Marlies without the offensive production of the previous season. In three brief call-ups with the Leafs he averaged 8:26 of ice time and was scoreless with 4 PMs. In 58 games with the Marlies he scored 13 goals with 21 assists and was -4 with 51 PMs. The Marlies missed the playoffs despite a six-point improvement. Toronto did not offer Hanson a qualifying offer and he signed a one-year free agent contract with the Capitals in July 2011.
Talent Analysis
Tri-City head coach Bliss Littler’s insights on Christian Hanson: “Christian absolutely reeks with character. As an individual, he is an absolutely phenomenal kid who is also great student. As a hockey player, he is a big kid who skates well who has nice and honest skills. He’s got the makings of a good power forward. Christian will go as far as he wants to go. He is a mentally tough kid. He has the skill level, skating ability, size and a bit of a mean streak that we saw here from time to time. He’s a powerful skater with a powerful stride and he’s worked hard at that. As he continues to fill out his body, he’s going to be a force out on the ice and will get better at using it to his body to his advantage. Consistency in the physical side of the game will be an area that he’ll need to continue to improve and develop. When Christian does that it will open up other dimensions of his game. He is very good defensively. His work ethic and discipline are two of Christian’s strong suits. He is willing to give up the body for the sake of making the play. He is a smart player and understands the game very well. Christian does have good hands but he tends to have that pass-first, shoot-later mentality and we would’ve liked to see him shoot the puck more when he was here. I think Coach Jackson will get him to shoot more at Notre Dame. Christian has got everything that it takes to get to next level but he just needs to continue to develop and mature. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes successful at the pro level.”
Future
Hanson signed a one year deal with the Washington Capitals.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: November, 30th 2011
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