He has played 291 games in a Sens uniform.
Acquired as the centre piece in a deal that sent Dany Heatley packing, Milan Michalek has been a solid player here in the Nation’s Capital. But with the NHL trade deadline now just a week away, there’s a chance Milan Michalek is playing his last games as a member of the Ottawa Senators.
With a contract that is set to expire at season’s end, Michalek will be mentioned in many a trade rumour leading up to the March 5th trade deadline. He’s the highest paid player on the Senators roster this season, pulling in $6 million in the final year of a six year contract. While his salary is high, his cap hit is a fairly reasonable $4.3 mil. Ottawa first explored the possibility of trading Michalek at the Draft in New Jersey but there wasn’t a whole lot of interest.
Fresh off an appearance in the Winter Olympics, Michalek seems healthy and ready to play. Injuries have slowed him down a bit the last couple seasons but in the two weeks leading up to the Olympic break, he seemed to be finding his stride a little bit. There will never be a time when he’s 100% I don’t think but he can still contribute offensively.
The rumours have been there for months but Phoenix might be an option for Michalek. The Coyotes could use an added offensive punch and with his brother Zbynek already there, it seems like a decent fit. Derek Morris, also on an expiring contract, had been mentioned as a player that Ottawa may have interest in. I expect the two teams to explore this possibility again leading up to the deadline.
Then again, keeping Milan Michalek is also an option. Michalek has enjoyed his time here in Ottawa. With the team pushing for a playoff spot, they may decide they’re willing to keep him around for the stretch drive and wait until the off season to decide his future with the team. Either way, it will be an interesting week for Milan Michalek and the Ottawa Senators.
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