When Dean Lombardi signed Michal Handzus to a four-year free agent contract in the summer of 2007, he hoped Zeus would return to the player he was out east (where he posted back-to back 20 goal seasons for the Flyers) - not the player he was the prior year in Chicago. A knee injury saw his numbers go south with the Blackhawks, only eight games played the entire year.
Year one in LA was almost like an extended rehab assignment. He didn't score his first real goal that season until December 6th (his goal on opening night in London, vs. the Ducks, was actually an empty netter).
That appeared to be the start of his stats heading north again though. He posted four goals in seven games, three of them short-handed! Yet, after December 17th, he wouldn't find the back of the net again until March 22nd. Just a tough year no matter you slice it.
He turned the page in the summer of '08 and has really never looked back. In fact, for the last two years he's arguably been the Kings MVP. A durable, third line center - with a knack for scoring timely goals.
First the knee returned. Next was his goal scoring. Now, he's looking to complete the hat-trick...the hair is back.
While not as famous as say Jaromir Jagr's mullet, Zeus used to have a fresh Euro-hockey look. One that was uniquely his. Call it part-Michael Bolton, part-Kenny Powers.
How about the important questions though, like what does he think of Frolov being Eastbound and is he down with Poni being his new linemate?
It's all here, in an exclusive interview with Michal Handzus.
MM: As things started to shake out over the summer with the Kovalchuk situation, for a brief moment it looked like Frolov may come back to the Kings. Was that something you were excited about or mentally had you already moved on?
