Most improved player?

If we're taking a vote, based on the first three games, Michal Handzus would have to get strong consideration. Last season, Handzus played 82 games -- impressive, given that he was coming back from major knee surgery -- but underachieved by most everyone's standards, with seven goals, 14 assists and dwindling ice time. Handzus seems to be enjoying a resurgence this season. He has two assists in three games, looks to be a more confident skater and is playing strong defensively.

Terry Murray, who served as an assistant coach when Handzus played with the Flyers, had this to say about Handzus' game...

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Question: Handzus is a guy who struggled quite a bit last year, for whatever reason, but looks a lot stronger now. Is he closer to the guy you remember from Philly?

MURRAY: ``Yeah. Michal has gone through a tough couple years. He goes to Chicago and blows his leg out. He came from Philly the previous year and he had a shoulder issue and he had that taken care of. I know last year he had some problems coming in at the start of the year too. So he never really got on track. He didn't have an opportunity to work out in the summertime last year because of the rehab work that he had to put in. You just don't get your body ready to become an athlete again. You're always on the mend, and that wears on you mentally. So as a result, you're off to a bad start and you can't gain any ground as the season goes on. This year, it's been totally opposite. His time away from the game this summer has been toward getting ready to play and getting himself back in top physical shape, and mentally he's ready to go. So you do see a newer player, a fresher player, and I like a lot of the things he's doing, like he did back in Philly a few years ago. He's been assigned the top offensive lines, he's a checker, he's a penalty killer, he's playing the power play, lots of minutes and he does thrive on that kind of a workload.''

And here's an interview from this morning with Handzus...

Question: Many people watching the games have commented on how much stronger you look this year? Do you feel better?

HANDZUS: ``Yeah, I feel stronger, for sure. My skating is better, so I think that's key for my game. I was working hard all summer to get better than I was before. I'm getting there. I'm not there yet. I think I still have a ways to go but I think it's on the right track.''

Question: People talk about athletes coming back from ACL surgery, and how much stronger they get in the second year back. Have you experienced that?

HANDZUS: ``I don't know. I wasn't good last year, and I don't want to put everything on my knee. I don't look back and I don't think about my knee. I knew I had a good summer. I worked out hard and I don't look back. I think that's a key. So I don't really think about last year or the surgery or the knee. I just look forward to this year and getting better.''