Kings start in on Plan B, pick up four free agents

On the second day of musical chairs, also known as NHL free agency, the Kings finally found open spots, though distinctly removed from the prime seating.

They signed four free agents: 28-year-old defenseman Tom Preissing ($11 million over four years), 30-year-old center Michal Handzus ($16 million over four years) and 28-year-old left wingers Kyle Calder ($5.5 million over two years) and Ladislav Nagy ($3.75 million for one year).

Welcome to Plan B.

“I think today we’re a better team,” said Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi on a conference call Monday.

“I’m glad we didn’t have to fall to Plan C. Obviously, yesterday you looked at the big guys, but I’m glad today we didn’t go, ‘Whoa,’ and Plan B fell apart.”

This was as much about what didn’t happen for the Kings on Sunday as what transpired Monday. Big name after big name went elsewhere. Scott Gomez and Chris Drury joined the New York Rangers, and Daniel Briere signed an eight-year, $52-million deal with Philadelphia.

Lombardi said the fact that Drury has a place in Southern California might have led to some enhanced expectations as he spoke about the three big names in Sunday’s action.

“I’m not prepared to build this and put eight-year contracts out there, that gets risky,” he said. “When you see what happens to a lot of NBA teams that went that route, it’s dangerous.

“It was clear he wanted to go to Philadelphia,” Lombardi said of Briere. “We were hanging in there. It was a long day. I think a lot of people were fooled by the Manhattan Beach house here,” referring to Drury, “but that was not right.... Gomez, we were in on it. We were probably more involved with the price there.

“You just got to go to Plan B and stay on the course.”

And so what about the new Kings not named Scott, Chris and Daniel? Handzus comes to the Kings, projected as a second-line center, with a mere eight games on his resume last season in Chicago because of knee surgery. But that issue did not seem to be a concern.

“He gives us size down the middle,” Lombardi said. “You’ve got [Anze] Kopitar and Handzus, that’s a pretty big middle of two pretty good hockey players. And that allows us the flexibility on the wing.

“Michal may not be the sexy name, so to speak. But people who know hockey really appreciate this guy.”

Preissing was the leading scorer among the Ottawa Senators’ defensemen last season with seven goals and 38 points in 80 games. Nagy, who had 12 goals and 55 points in 80 games last season, started the season in Phoenix and moved to Dallas in February. Calder moved at the trading deadline, from Philadelphia to Detroit, and had 35 points in 78 games last season.

Times staff writer Lonnie White contributed to this report.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com