If I asked you who the highest paid player on the Ottawa Senators was next season, your first instinct would probably be to blurt out Jason Spezza or Erik Karlsson.
But because of the way his contract is structured, it will be the oft injured Milan Michalek that will earn the most money of any Senator next season. And while is cap hit remains a fairly reasonable $4,333,333 per season, the five time 20 goal scorer will actually pull in a team high $6 million next season. The team needs him to be healthy in 2013/2014.
As revealed at the team’s season ending media availability, Milan Michalek has what can best be described as chronic knee issues. Michalek plans to visit with a specialist in Germany over the off season to if determine if there’s anything they can do to strengthen that knee that gave him problems this season.
And while his attempt to return to the lineup at playoff time was admirable, it was clear Michalek just didn’t have the same jump in his step that we have grown accustom to since he was acquired in that Dany Heatley trade back in 2010.
Except on this play.
Michalek appeared in just 23 games during the regular season but did suit up for all ten playoff games, picking up five points along the way.
Rumours persist that the Senators will look at trade options related to Michalek but it’s hard to imagine he would draw a ton of interest with the injury issues he had this past season. Entering the final year of his contract, the Sens will hope Michalek can stay healthy and put up big numbers in a contract year.
Finding a goal scoring winger will be a priority for Bryan Murray this off season. It would make Murray’s job a whole lot easier if that goal scoring winger turns out to be Milan Michalek.
- A casualty of last year’s lockout, it sounds as though the yearly rookie tournament will be back next season. The tournament will include rookies from Ottawa, Toronto, Chicago and Pittsburgh and will be held in London, Ontario.
