Michal Handzus grew up playing hockey in his hometown of Banska Bystrica in Slovakia. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, 101st overall by the St. Louis Blues.
Rather than join the Blues at the age of 18, Handzus elected to remain in Slovakia to develop his skills before coming over to North America at the age of 20 in 1997. That first year in the pro ranks, he played an entire year with the Worcester IceCats of the AHL, becoming accustomed to the North American game. It was a quick learning curve for Handzus, who averaged almost a point per game.
In 1998-99 Handzus earned a regular roster spot with the Blues and in a primarily defensive role with the team, managed to score four goals and 16 points in 66 games. There was definitely no sophomore jinx, and in fact it was his most productive season to date. In 81 games he netted 25 goals and 53 points in 1999-00. Despite carving out a role for himself with the team, Handzus was packaged in a trade that saw him go to the Phoenix Coyotes for Keith Tkachuk in March, 2001.
After the 2001-02 season, Handzus was dispatched by the Coyotes to the Philadelphia Flyers where he would fit in nicely under head coach Ken Hitchcock. Following a pair of 20-goal seasons with Philadelphia, Handzus would compete for a Slovakian club during the NHL lock out. He would return to Philadelphia and the NHL in 2005-06, however the Flyers would be eliminated from the playoffs that year earlier than expected.
In the summer of 2006, Handzus was dealt to a rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks team in exchange for Kyle Calder. Only eight games into his first season as a Blackhawk, Handzus tore his ACL. The injury would keep the big forward out of the line-up for the remainder of the season.
In the off-season, the Los Angeles Kings signed Handzus as a free agent.
Handzus would appear in all 82 games in three of seasons in Los Angeles, missing only a single game in 2009-10. On two occasions the big centre would record 42 points and in 2009-10 he would reach the 20 goal mark.
On July 1, 2011, Handzus signed a two-year contract worth $5 million with the San Jose Sharks.
During the lockout shortened 201213 season, Handzus, with his contract set to expire in the summer, was traded by the Sharks back to the Chicago Blackhawks for a 4th round draft pick.
On the international stage, Handzus has represented his homeland at the World Junior Championship (1996-1997), the World Championship (2000, 2002 and 2005), the Winter Olympics (2002, 2006 and 2010) and the World Cup of Hockey (2004).
