RESURGENCE MAKES SCHNEIDER AN ALL-STAR.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

Considering the lack of esteem in which Mathieu Schneider was held around the NHL just three years ago, many league followers might have assumed he would be out of hockey altogether by this point. Instead, Schneider is an All-Star.

Schneider is the Kings' representative in today's NHL All-Star Game, a testament to the Kings' injuries and poor play, but mostly to Schneider's resurgence as one of the league's most dangerous two-way defensemen.

``I've played my same game, day in and day out, I haven't changed anything,'' Schneider said. ``Over the years, with maturity I think I've become more consistent, but I've always been a two-way player and been responsible on both ends of the ice.''

Others would disagree. Schneider had been a valued defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders in the early-to-mid 1990s, but his reputation began to suffer after the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired him late in the 1995-96 season.

Schneider spent two more seasons in Toronto, then moved to the New York Rangers, with whom he totaled just 34 and 30 points, respectively, in two seasons. The best deal Schneider could get after that, in the summer of 2000, was a one-year, $2.1-million deal from the Kings. Schneider needed to prove himself all over again.

``I knew what I was capable of,'' Schneider said. ``When you play on poor teams, everybody looks bad. When you play on winning teams, everybody looks good. I think I was a victim of that. I went through a couple years with the Rangers where we struggled, we didn't play well as a team, but I felt I had two pretty good years in New York.

``Same thing in Toronto. That was a team having a rough time, going through a lot of changes, so you become a victim of the system more than anything. The best thing for me was to come here and get into a winning environment. That makes a big difference.

``You see it happen the other way, too. Guys win a Stanley Cup and they do well on the free-agent market because they are considered winners. I had about four or five years where I played on losing teams and that makes it difficult.''

Schneider's improved consistency helped him, as did playing under coach Andy Murray's system, which encourages defensemen to play an active part on offense, leading to the perception that Schneider's game had developed with the Kings.

``I don't know if it's developing his game as much as he returned to the game he used to have,'' Murray said. ``He was a stalwart with the Leafs, and people thought his career was on the wane a bit in New York, but what he's done is get his game back to the level that people expected from him.''

Schneider had a solid first season with the Kings, but hernia surgery limited him to 55 games last season and he played at less than 100 percent when he returned.

This season, Schneider has 10 goals and 22 assists in 48 games, putting him on pace to record one of the best seasons in his 14-year career at age 33. He is tied for seventh in the NHL for scoring among defensemen.

``Just being here and playing for Andy has been refreshing for me,'' Schneider said. ``Making the All-Star Game is a great honor, but the real rewards come when the team does well and when you win.''

The Kings' injury situation might prevent team success from happening this season, but unlike before, even if his team isn't playing well, Schneider's reputation is secure.

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