Kings Sign Handzus and Nagy

[blackngold]

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed free agent center Michal Handzus to a four-year contract and left wing Ladislav Nagy to a one-year contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

Handzus, 30, has played eight NHL seasons including one this past season with the Chicago Blackhawks - three with the Philadelphia Flyers (2002-03 to 2003-04 and 2005-06), two with the Phoenix Coyotes (2000-01 and 2001-02) and three with the St. Louis Blues (1998-99 to 2000-01). In 517 career regular season games, he has 300 points (115-185=300), 313 penalty minutes and a plus-51 rating. In 60 career playoff games, he has 25 points (7-18=25), 34 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating.

This past season, Handzus appeared in eight games with Chicago and collected eight points (3-5=8), six penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating. He collected his 300th NHL point versus St. Louis on October 21, 2006. He also matched a career high with three assists in a game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 7, 2006.

Handzus, a former teammate of center Ladislav Nagy in both St. Louis and Phoenix, finished second on Philadelphia in scoring in 2003-04 with a career high 58 points (20-38=58), and he helped the Flyers win an Atlantic Division title and reach the Eastern Conference Finals that year. In addition, he finished second in voting for the Frank J. Selke Trophy (given to the NHL’s best defensive forward) after scoring a career high 25 goals and finishing with a career high plus-19 in 1999-00. Handzus has scored 44 or more points five times and 20 or more goals three times during his NHL career.

Handzus, a 6-5, 217-pound native of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, was originally selected by St. Louis in the fourth-round (101st overall) in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Internationally, Handzus has represented Slovakia at the 2002 Winter Olympics Games, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and at the World Championships in 2005, 2002 (gold medal) and 2000 (silver medal). He has also represented Slovakia at the World Junior Championships in 1996 and 1997.

Nagy, 28, has played seven NHL seasons with the Dallas Stars, the Phoenix Coyotes and the St. Louis Blues. In 397 career regular season games, he has 285 points (106-179=285), 340 penalty minutes and a plus-37 rating. In 18 career playoff games, he has four points (2-2=4) and 23 penalty minutes.

This past season, Nagy played with both Dallas and Phoenix, and he recorded a career high 43 assists, 55 points (12-43=55) and 54 penalty minutes while matching a career high with 80 games played. Nagy had 41 points (8-33=41) and 48 penalty minutes in 55 games with Phoenix before he was traded to Dallas in exchange for left wing Mathias Tjarnqvist and a first-round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on February 12, 2007. In 25 games with Dallas, Nagy recorded 14 points (4-10=14) and six penalty minutes.

Nagy also recorded two points (1-1=2), two penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating in seven Stanley Cup playoff games with Dallas this past postseason.

Nagy, who has recorded 52 or more points in each of his last four NHL seasons and is a three-time 20-goal scorer in the league, began his NHL career with the Blues in 1999-00. The 5-11, 192-pound native of Saca, Slovakia, was originally selected by the Blues in the seventh-round (177th overall) in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. In addition, he was a teammate of center Michal Handzus in both St. Louis and Phoenix.

Internationally, Nagy was named to Team Slovakia for the 2006 Winter Olympics Games but missed the tournament because of injury. He did skate for Slovakia at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and at the World Championships in 2003 (bronze medal), 2002 (gold medal) and 2001. He also represented his country at the World Junior Championships in 1999 (bronze medal).

Prior to turning pro, Nagy played one season with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). While there, he led the QMJHL and ranked second in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) with 71 goals in 1998-99. He also ranked fifth in the CHL in points (126) that year and was named to the CHL’s All-Rookie Team.

[R.Middleton]

It is going to suck having Nagy in a rival uniform.

[vandymeer13]

These two guys must be butt buddies this is the reason why Handzus didn't sign with the Hawks is because he wanted Nagy to come and be his roommate, that seems kind of gay to me.

[Isles4life]

It took the Kings longer than I anticipated to get into the act, but they didn't do terrible here, although I don't know the cash involved yet. Handzus can be an impact player if he stays healthy, and Nagy is bound to put up better numbers this year.

[R.Middleton]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

It took the Kings longer than I anticipated to get into the act, but they didn't do terrible here, although I don't know the cash involved yet. Handzus can be an impact player if he stays healthy, and Nagy is bound to put up better numbers this year.

Nagy is capable of being one of the best wingers in the league. It's just he was on the coyotes the past few years and you know...

[mckendo83]

Originally Posted by vandymeer13

These two guys must be butt buddies this is the reason why Handzus didn't sign with the Hawks is because he wanted Nagy to come and be his roommate, that seems kind of gay to me.

thats just ridiculous. he was traded to the hawks,he didn't sign with them or voluntarily go there, he probably hated playing there...glad to see he was picked up so fast.

[BRITISHKINGSNUT]

Decent move by the Kings, hopefully we can improve from an absolute sham of a season of last year. We have young talent there at the moment with Frolov, Brown and Kopitar hopefully this will give us a solid 2 maybe 3 lines, hopefully we will pick up some more players though, seeing the Ducks win this year did not sit well with Kings Fans.

[Arankys]

A lot of soft players on the Kings.

[Podollan]

Originally Posted by Arankys

A lot of soft players on the Kings.

Nothing new äh?

Ivanans was already resigned, right? They definitly have to resign S.Thornton too and get another middleweight or lightheavy. Asham would be great even if he doesn't fight that much.

[Shockadelica]

Handzus is a great utility player and can pull a lot of tricks out of his ass. He didn't get to show it last season since he was hurt but back with the Flyers I remember him making some crazy defensive plays on PK's and 5-on-5. Kings may be heading to the playoffs this year.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

I agree about Nagy. Something about playing for the Coyotes seems to suck the life force out of some pretty decent players....

[longboarderj]

The kings are looking good so far, but I am waiting for them to follow their past m.o. and get rid of their top young player [Kopitar] and pick up somene who played for them ten years ago and has since gone over the hill. Maybe this season they can break tradition, Luc retired so they can't bring him back again.

[jkidd]

Imagine that, the Wild pass on Handzus to grab some ****ing hack from Europe...

Good pick up for the Kings, in both regards.

[Brashearfan]

Boy do I miss Handzus in Philly. That was one of Clark's dumbest trades.