With all the grumbling on the Internet after Day One of the NHL free agency, you'd think Dean Lombardi was sitting at his desk, playing Mahjong, while other teams snapped up high-profile players and signing them to ungodly term lengths. All the talk of Dino being "the hardest-working GM" in the NHL must've been a smoke screen, right?

Turns out, "The Don" wasn't playing Majjong, but his own version of Stratego. He made offers to the big players during Day One, but was rebuffed, probably knowing those players weren't going to sign anyway. So as dawn struck on Day Two, so did Lombardi, snapping up four free agents and silencing the critics that he wasn't serious about building this team.

Michel Handzus, a hard-nosed center who missed most of last season with a torn ACL on his left knee, received a $16 million contract over four years. According to Lombardi in Monday's conference call, the knee injury wasn't a concern.

Left wing Ladislav Nagy signed a one year, $3.75 million deal. Basically, Lombardi is giving him a "trial" run, to see if the problems he's had in the past can stay there. Also, being teamed up with fellow Czech mates Handzus and Lubomir Visnovsky should help him keep his focus.

Winger Kyle Calder was signed for two years, $5.5 million. Lombardi likes the cut of his young man's jib, mostly because he plays that "Mike Ricci-type game" of hard-nosed, old-time hockey. Oddly, Calder and Handzus share a "seven degrees of separation" connection. Back in 2006, Calder was traded by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Philadelphia Flyers for... Michael Handzus. Small world, huh? Now, they're teammates.

Finally, the signing of defenseman Tom Preissing, who will fill in nicely on the second defensive line, probably opposite Lubo. There was some talk that the Kings are still in talks with defenseman Brad Stuart, but it's unlikely anything will be done before tomorrow.

All in all, not a bad day for the Los Angeles Kings. Dino basically shored up his defense and signed a full line of two-way players to improve this team's chances next season. It's also a prime example of "fiscal responsibilty." For essentially $13.25 million next season, the Kings signed four free agents, filling half of the holes of which Lombardi was quoted as saying. Plus, it allows for cap room next season, when Cammaleri needs to be re-upped.

For $14.4 million, the Rangers have Scott Gomez and Chris Drury under contract. Granted, those two are far greater, talent-wise, than the four players the Kings signed. Also, the Rangers are closer to being a competitive team next season, so it makes sense they take a gamble like that. But four solid players for less than two "star" players? Sounds responsible to me.

Posted by Matt Murray at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's finally official! Defenseman Tom Preissing is now going to don the purple and black. The 28-year-old defenseman had 7 goals and 31 assists last year for the Senators. It's being reported as a four year deal, worth $11 million dollars.

ESPN columnist Scott Burnside has this to say about Preissing:

Preissing put up good numbers with 38 points and a whopping plus-40, which was tied for third in the NHL. Although he and Joe Corvo were a solid defensive pairing that jumped the depth chart on the Senators squad early in the playoffs, Senators GM Bryan Murray wasn't enamoured enough to want Preissing around long-term. In the deciding game of the Stanley Cup finals, Preissing played just 8:11. Still there will be many teams that will want Preissing to fill a hole as a third or fourth defenseman who can produce offensively.

Another youngster signed with lots of upside. This provides the Kings with some depth at defense, but there's always room for more. (cough cough, Brad Stuart, cough cough).

Posted by Matt Murray at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)