You said he is a good signing on the first line with a skilled linemate, not on the third or fourth line... then said that he is a good signing for the third line and 15 goals.
That's the very definition of contradiction.
- mlindsay

No he didn't... learn how to read. He said that you won't get much if you don't play him on top line, yet he can be a good depth winger if played on the 2/3 lines.

i don't deny that heatley was one of the best pure goal scorers in teh league. he had an ability to get open, and had a great shot...........but that was about all he had.

he was a terrible skater, wasn't a very good two-way player, didn't really drive possession, not much of a playmaker.

he needed great linemates in order to be a great player, he wasn't the kind of guy that would elevate the play of his linemates. that's what i meant by Heatley lite.
- sensarmy_11

He was a great player in Atlanta before coming to Ottawa, better than Kovalchuk imo. And he had a huge impact on the production of Corvo, Preissing and many other d-men while in Ottawa, and Spezza's numbers as well as Alfie's were career highs while with Heatley. In fact, he led your team in points in back-to-back seasons including by almost 20 points in 06/07. He wasn't always a terrible skater....I maintain that was the toll of the accident catching up to him. People seem to think injuries go away, they don't. The poopty part is you guys remember the end in Ottawa, and his rapid regression, and his inability to counter that regression with a regiment of solid off-season training. You forget he was a game breaker for his first 2 seasons. And he certainly could skate....he sure did light up my Leafies on the breakway with regularity.

This headline question from EK ranks right up there with an oldie but a goodie from 2009:

"Are the Washington Capitals the only team good enough to beat Vancouver in a 7 game series?"

This headline question from EK ranks right up there with an oldie but a goodie from 2009:

"Are the Washington Capitals the only team good enough to beat Vancouver in a 7 game series?"
- Emperor Filonius

like Richard Park

He was a great player in Atlanta before coming to Ottawa, better than Kovalchuk imo. And he had a huge impact on the production of Corvo, Preissing and many other d-men while in Ottawa, and Spezza's numbers as well as Alfie's were career highs while with Heatley. In fact, he led your team in points in back-to-back seasons including by almost 20 points in 06/07. He wasn't always a terrible skater....I maintain that was the toll of the accident catching up to him. People seem to think injuries go away, they don't. The poopty part is you guys remember the end in Ottawa, and his rapid regression, and his inability to counter that regression with a regiment of solid off-season training. You forget he was a game breaker for his first 2 seasons. And he certainly could skate....he sure did light up my Leafies on the breakway with regularity.
- mykokes

that's a good point. it's hard to look at heatley and be positive about anything....similar to yashin.

that being said, i maintain that he never had game breaking skating ability, and a large majority of his goals were on one time passes from spezza or alfi.

He was a great player in Atlanta before coming to Ottawa, better than Kovalchuk imo. And he had a huge impact on the production of Corvo, Preissing and many other d-men while in Ottawa, and Spezza's numbers as well as Alfie's were career highs while with Heatley. In fact, he led your team in points in back-to-back seasons including by almost 20 points in 06/07. He wasn't always a terrible skater....I maintain that was the toll of the accident catching up to him. People seem to think injuries go away, they don't. The poopty part is you guys remember the end in Ottawa, and his rapid regression, and his inability to counter that regression with a regiment of solid off-season training. You forget he was a game breaker for his first 2 seasons. And he certainly could skate....he sure did light up my Leafies on the breakway with regularity.
- mykokes

Heatley was one of the best players Ottawa ever had. It's hard for people to give him credit for what he did because of how he left. But he was a huge part of the team that went to the final. He's skating defiantly caught up to him though, after his time in Ottawa.

If anything, Michalek is going to be one of the bigger UFA busts rather than a late blooming superstar. He was a very solid player, but injuries have got the better of him and have taken away from his speed, which was always is primary weapon.

Eklund: UFA2B: Could Milan Michalek Be a Late-Blooming Superstar?
- Eklund

"And believe it or not Michalak is only 29 years old, making him of the best scoring young UFA's on the market."

394 points in 631 games

vanek, stastny, cammalleri, hemsky, and moulson disagree

This headline question from EK ranks right up there with an oldie but a goodie from 2009:

"Are the Washington Capitals the only team good enough to beat Vancouver in a 7 game series?"
- Emperor Filonius

"And believe it or not Michalak is only 29 years old, making him of the best scoring young UFA's on the market."

394 points in 631 games

vanek, stastny, cammalleri, hemsky, and moulson disagree
- homiedclown

The fact he quoted his age......you know who else was a 29 year old free agent?
David Clarkson.

The fact he quoted his age......you know who else was a 29 year old free agent?
David Clarkson.
- mykokes

sorry

The fact he quoted his age......you know who else was a 29 year old free agent?
David Clarkson.
- mykokes

oh my

Eklund: UFA2B: Could Milan Michalek Be a Late-Blooming Superstar?
- Eklund

he needs to stay healthy. can he put in a full season?

"And believe it or not Michalak is only 29 years old, making him of the best scoring young UFA's on the market."

394 points in 631 games

vanek, stastny, cammalleri, hemsky, and moulson disagree
- homiedclown

and what's with the 'only 29' ? It's all downhill from here, regression is inevitable once in your 30s. Especially for someone with a history of injury and consistency problems.

- sensarmy_11

it's all because of this

He was a great player in Atlanta before coming to Ottawa, better than Kovalchuk imo. And he had a huge impact on the production of Corvo, Preissing and many other d-men while in Ottawa, and Spezza's numbers as well as Alfie's were career highs while with Heatley. In fact, he led your team in points in back-to-back seasons including by almost 20 points in 06/07. He wasn't always a terrible skater....I maintain that was the toll of the accident catching up to him. People seem to think injuries go away, they don't. The poopty part is you guys remember the end in Ottawa, and his rapid regression, and his inability to counter that regression with a regiment of solid off-season training. You forget he was a game breaker for his first 2 seasons. And he certainly could skate....he sure did light up my Leafies on the breakway with regularity.
- mykokes

being responsible for the death of his buddy must weigh on him as well.

He's like 100 other guys in the NHL, has the raw abilities to be a star, but never quite puts it all together. Or maybe does a couple times, with 1 or 2 outstanding seasons over his career. Ek has a very loose definition of superstar. I expect some locations!

Injuries nerfed his potential ,knee troubles cut down this guy .As for what might have been ,he had everthing teams want in a top 6 winger.Too bad really,as we probably never got to see him at his best

and what's with the 'only 29' ? It's all downhill from here, regression is inevitable once in your 30s. Especially for someone with a history of injury and consistency problems.
- BestRapperAlive

agreed

Injuries nerfed his potential ,knee troubles cut down this guy .As for what might have been ,he had everthing teams want in a top 6 winger.Too bad really,as we probably never got to see him at his best
- top shelf 15

potential, had a ton of it

he will probably go to a team like the pens and put up 60 points on the third line and have a healthy season

Milan Michalek will sign with the Wild after Vanek signs in MTL. Michalek is the natural replacement for Heatley
- Pea-Brain

And Heater will then come to Edmonton

Go easy on him, he's an MTL fan... they only had 1 player this year with over 20g, so anything in the 15-20g range is awesome for them.
- KarlKarlsson

Can Pacioretty count as 2 considering he had 39 goals?

Eklund: UFA2B: Could Milan Michalek Be a Late-Blooming Superstar?
- Eklund

If anything, Michalek is going to be one of the bigger UFA busts rather than a late blooming superstar. He was a very solid player, but injuries have got the better of him and have taken away from his speed, which was always is primary weapon.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

This.