Ponikarovsky interview

After his autograph session today, Alexei Ponikarovsky, one of the newest Kings, came to talk to the media in advance of his first training camp in Los Angeles…

Question: How has it been, settling in here?

PONIKAROVSKY: “I’m glad to be here, getting ready for the season, and I can’t wait to get out there and play. It’s been a little bit of a change for sure, in terms of weather and maybe the lifestyle, but other than that, everything just seems nornal.”

Question: It must feel good to come to a team that made the playoffs last season…

PONIKAROVSKY: “Oh yeah, for sure. For the past few years, we were struggling and didn’t make the playoffs in Toronto, but I did get to make a playoff run with Pittsburgh last year and that was a lot of fun, so I can’t wait to get back and do it again. It’s totally different hockey, and exciting.”

Question: The thought is that you will play on a line with Michal Handzus. Do you know him at all, or have you talked to him?

PONIKARVOSKY: “I pretty much know Michal from when he played back in Philadelphia. We played a lot against each other, and I know the way he plays and he probably knows the way I play. Other than that, I can’t say that I’m going to play with him, or someone else. It’s up to the management and coaching staff to see who they want to put me with. For me, it doesn’t matter who I’m going to play with. I just have to bring my game and basically be helpful to the team.”

Question: You waited a while to sign, two or three weeks. Can you talk about what that free-agent process was like?

PONIKAROVSKY: “Basically, it was a little bit of a different year, in terms of free agency. This year it was a little bit tougher. Everybody had a harder time to sign somewhere, to get a deal. When I started talking to Los Angeles, it was basically that they came forward and said, `We like you and we’d like to see you on our team,’ and it was pretty much a no-brainer for me. I said, `For sure, I’ll be happy to play for the L.A. Kings.’ That’s pretty much how we signed.”

Question: Any concerns about coming to the West to play?

PONIKAROVSKY: “I have changed anything in terms of attitude or hard work, stuff like that. I’ve been working throughout the summer, getting ready for the season. I know it’s maybe a little bit of a different game here, than on the East, but I think I can adjust pretty well to it and just go have fun.”