Handzus providing little bang for bucks

Michal Handzus has an assist in two of the last three games. Maybe now the Kings will start getting their money’s worth.

Handzus, 30, signed a four-year, $16-million free-agent contract in the off-season, but just past the midway mark, he has accounted for only 12 points. At that rate he would pull in an estimated $166,666 a point this season.

The Kings were hoping he’d be more in line with the player who had totaled 20 goals and 38 assists four years ago in Philadelphia. To be fair, however, he’s not the only free agent trying to prove his worth.

Kyle Calder, who signed on the same day as Handzus, scored his sixth goal of the season and 14th point on an assist from Handzus on Thursday night, opening the hatches for a 5-2 victory over Toronto at Staples Center. Two seasons ago, Calder had a career-best 26 goals and 33 assists in Chicago.

The performances have cast some doubt on General Manager Dean Lombardi’s eye for talent, but with six free agents joining the team this season, he says he anticipated some slow starts.

“It’s a very difficult thing to bring in a lot of new players,” Lombardi said earlier this week. “In terms of those players and individuals, some have met their expectations and some have been below.”

Handzus, who played only eight games with Chicago last season because of a knee injury, said he’s beginning to feel comfortable playing on the same line as Calder.

“We’ve obviously been playing together more, so I think we’ve finally got chemistry,” he said. “Definitely, we can play together.”

Defenseman Kevin Dallman skated Friday morning for the first time since fracturing the top of his right foot when he was hit by a puck Dec. 22 at Nashville. He says he plans to make the team’s three-game trip that begins Tuesday in Edmonton.

“I’ve been killing myself for a few weeks waiting to come back,” he said.

Michael Cammalleri, also out since Dec. 22 because of bruised ribs, began skating early this week and will also make the trip. Coach Marc Crawford said Dallman is still a week to 10 days from returning. He hasn’t set a timeline for Cammalleri’s return.

Goalie Jason LaBarbera, who stopped a career-high 48 shots against Toronto after getting lifted in the first period of his previous start, has been working on seeing the puck better.

Bill Ranford, goalkeeper coach for the Kings, said LaBarbera is doing a better job of picking up the shooter’s release and then moving into position to make the save.

“Instead of picking up the release, he was just going to that spot, body first, eyes second,” Ranford said. “If you don’t see the puck and you don’t see the release, then all that good work and ice awareness and anticipation is gone out the door.”

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TODAY

vs. Dallas, 1 p.m., FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Kings 16-27-2, Stars 25-17-4.

Record vs. Stars -- 2-3.

Update -- Defenseman Rob Blake will tie a franchise record today with his 780th game as a member of the Kings. Blake, who scored his fourth goal of the season Thursday night, will tie Mattias Norstrom. Blake previously held the team mark of 662 games before Norstrom passed it during the 2005-06 season.

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dan.arritt@latimes.com