Jared Crozier: Senators Report Card: Milan Michalek

michalek is a little overpaid, no doubt, but i like what he brings. he's a guy that you can plug into the top six if need be, but is also very effective in a more defensive bottom six role. he can kill penalties or play on the PP. he doens't seem to excel at anything, but is cabable of playing effectively, albeit not outstanding, everywhere. add to that, he does whatever the coaches ask, and doesn't complain. that's the kind of guy you want in the lockerroom around all these young kids.

if the right deal come up, i'm obviously good with moving him, but i don't mind michalek in the lineup.

SO what you're saying is that he is a overpaid chris higgins for us?

I feel like michalek is one of those veterans that is really good for young guys to be around. He always seems to have a level head, plays a solid game, hopefully he can stay healthier and contribute a little more next season.

He's no Dale Weise!

Michalek had 13 goals and he gets a C? He was outplayed by Eric Condra for gadsacks.

Michalek deserves a D, he's getting outplayed by guys who were on waivers and is making 4x what they make.

and he's always injured, and he can't deke out a cow in a field, the guy is only good at tap in goals off of beautiful plays

I really don't mind his 4M dollar price tag. Sure he might be a little overpaid, but he's still an effective bottom 6 player, he kills penalties, and he can come into a Top 6 role due to injuries and still perform. I agree under Cameron his play got so much better. And finish above 0.5ppg for the season isn't that disappointing for him.

I wouldn't cry over seeing him traded though, but I think he can still be a valuable piece for this team for the length of his contract.

Michalek had 13 goals and he gets a C? He was outplayed by Eric Condra for gadsacks.

Michalek deserves a D, he's getting outplayed by guys who were on waivers and is making 4x what they make.

and he's always injured, and he can't deke out a cow in a field, the guy is only good at tap in goals off of beautiful plays
- tuna99

there is so much wrong with this post that i don't even know where to begin.

1. he mentioned the disparity between the first and second half........first half was junk, and in the 2nd half he was on a 30g and ppg pace.

2. you say 13 goals like it's a bad thing, it was good for 7th on the team, and he did it in like 62 games or something, which is almost a 20g pace over 82 games. not exactly lights out, but not terrible either.

3. saying he was outplayed by eric condra to show that he sucked, implying that condra also sucks, is just ridiculous. condra is one of the most underrated players in the league.

4. the only player who was put on waivers this year was greening, and he makes almost as much as milo and in NO WAY outplayed him. if you're referring to hoffman, the guy had a breakout year, when he was waived he was not even close to the player he was this year. that's like comparing apples to hockey pucks..........and does nothing to help prove your point.

5. michalek had a lot of nice goals this year...............i suggest youtube.


is milo overpaid a little, sure.....he's realistically probably a 3mil player. that being said, he was one of our best forwards in the second half, is a very good 2-way player, and is a great lockerroom guy for the youth in that dressing room.

there is so much wrong with this post that i don't even know where to begin.

1. he mentioned the disparity between the first and second half........first half was junk, and in the 2nd half he was on a 30g and ppg pace.

2. you say 13 goals like it's a bad thing, it was good for 7th on the team, and he did it in like 62 games or something, which is almost a 20g pace over 82 games. not exactly lights out, but not terrible either.

3. saying he was outplayed by eric condra to show that he sucked, implying that condra also sucks, is just ridiculous. condra is one of the most underrated players in the league.

4. the only player who was put on waivers this year was greening, and he makes almost as much as milo and in NO WAY outplayed him. if you're referring to hoffman, the guy had a breakout year, when he was waived he was not even close to the player he was this year. that's like comparing apples to hockey pucks..........and does nothing to help prove your point.

5. michalek had a lot of nice goals this year...............i suggest youtube.


is milo overpaid a little, sure.....he's realistically probably a 3mil player. that being said, he was one of our best forwards in the second half, is a very good 2-way player, and is a great lockerroom guy for the youth in that dressing room.
- sensarmy_11

see, everything you say could just be transposed onto Jared Cowen - a little overpaid...maybe / getting better at certain times of the year....yes / plays better with better players....yes / good in the lockerroom...yes

Michalek lit up because Stone was the best player in the eastern Conference for the last 30 games not because he figured it out, Michalek is one of those players who doesn't make anyone around him better, he is a hanger on for better players, his linemates get hot, he gets hot, his linemates are cold, he is cold.

Michalek is that player who you always hope does well and then after 5 years of him being invisible in the playoffs you're like - I'd rather give that ice time to Condra, at least he can make plays and get the puck in deep.

Michalek is a wallflower - the best thing about him is he never speaks to the press

see, everything you say could just be transposed onto Jared Cowen - a little overpaid...maybe / getting better at certain times of the year....yes / plays better with better players....yes / good in the lockerroom...yes

Michalek lit up because Stone was the best player in the eastern Conference for the last 30 games not because he figured it out, Michalek is one of those players who doesn't make anyone around him better, he is a hanger on for better players, his linemates get hot, he gets hot, his linemates are cold, he is cold.

Michalek is that player who you always hope does well and then after 5 years of him being invisible in the playoffs you're like - I'd rather give that ice time to Condra, at least he can make plays and get the puck in deep.

Michalek is a wallflower - the best thing about him is he never speaks to the press
- tuna99

what does stone heating up have to do with michalek? they only played like 6 games together. stone was with turris and chiasson/macarthur

as to you criticizing michalek's production..............list me the players who have scored more goals for the senators than michalek, since 09/10 when he was acquired. i think you'll be surprised.

Michalek is going to look good on that 3rd line next year with pageau and lazar. Him and condra are essentially the same player, only during this past season they had extremely different expectations. Michalek is a hard worker, a guy that seems to have lost any type of real scoring touch he might of had, which is fine. He's a team first guy that brings consistency every game. Michalek is what he is at this point and will be a good replacement for condra on that 3rd line. Condra will walk at UFA, there is really no need for him.

The sens have prospects to fill the left wing (puempel, prince) on the 4th line, to go along with smith and chiasson. Neil and Legwand (if not given away) will be 5th line guys.

I think the sens need to deal Hoffman, maybe along side whichever goalie gets dealt, plus a pick(maybe?) to get that top 6 left winger in return that Murray was talking about. Hoffman is RFA and will command big money, and OTT doesn't like him in the top 6. So I don't see room for him and he could be that deal breaking piece that nets a top 6 forward coming ottawas way.

Cowen should be dealt, he'll never be good in Ottawa. He needs a fresh start somewhere else, and Ottawa could get a decent return for him. So between Cowen, Hoffman and one of the good goalies Ottawa has, maybe a pick, Ottawa should be able to net that top 6 forward that could slide in on a line with zibby and bobby.

assuming Condra does not resign .... I see Milan as a perfect fit alongside Pageau and Lazar.

he is Marian Hossa lite.....

I agree with this ....


is milo overpaid a little, sure.....he's realistically probably a 3mil player. that being said, he was one of our best forwards in the second half, is a very good 2-way player, and is a great lockerroom guy for the youth in that dressing room.

what does stone heating up have to do with michalek? they only played like 6 games together. stone was with turris and chiasson/macarthur

as to you criticizing michalek's production..............list me the players who have scored more goals for the senators than michalek, since 09/10 when he was acquired. i think you'll be surprised.
- sensarmy_11

his 17 goals and -25 last season really set him up for a nice pay day.

Anyways, I think it's a bad contract for a player who is a 3rd liner. He's an alright player, but when are you ever going to watch a game and be like "Michalek was our best player tonight?" - that happened to almost every single per game player on Ottawa not named Gryba. He doesn't do it for me. It's the Brian Lee effect - do nothing and people think you are doing a ton because you are doing nothing and people think doing nothing in a hockey game is really hard so you must be really good to look like you are doing nothing. michalek is this to me. he hits those open nets versus Montreal and we win that series - this is why we need Eric Staal, because Michalek literally cannot score into an open net in the playoffs

assuming Condra does not resign .... I see Milan as a perfect fit alongside Pageau and Lazar.

he is Marian Hossa VERY lite.....

I agree with this ....


is milo overpaid a little, sure.....he's realistically probably a 3mil player. that being said, he was one of our best forwards in the second half, is a very good 2-way player, and is a great lockerroom guy for the youth in that dressing room.
- SensnRBs

Fixed that for you

his 17 goals and -25 last season really set him up for a nice pay day.

Anyways, I think it's a bad contract for a player who is a 3rd liner. He's an alright player, but when are you ever going to watch a game and be like "Michalek was our best player tonight?" - that happened to almost every single per game player on Ottawa not named Gryba. He doesn't do it for me. It's the Brian Lee effect - do nothing and people think you are doing a ton because you are doing nothing and people think doing nothing in a hockey game is really hard so you must be really good to look like you are doing nothing. michalek is this to me. he hits those open nets versus Montreal and we win that series - this is why we need Eric Staal, because Michalek literally cannot score into an open net in the playoffs
- tuna99

really....... his +/-

the whole team sucked last year. if you're going to use 1 year of +/- to define a player, then isn't even any point in having this conversation.

my favorite part is when you blast michalek's production.....and then in the next breath say we need Eric Staal, who's production has only been a bit better (playing top line minutes, instead of mostly 3rd line minutes), and who makes twice as much.

Fixed that for you
- sensarmy_11

well ya, thanks .....

but Milan's contract term is wayyyyy better

well ya, thanks .....

but Milan's contract term is wayyyyy better
- SensnRBs

term maybe.....but hossa's deal is pretty sweet. would be considered cap circumvention right now, and almost was when it was signed.

he only makes 4 mil next year, and only 1 mil per for the last 4 years.

Michalek had some value near the end of the season, but nothing to warrant the contract he has. Biggest issue for me.

It's amazing to think what we could or could've added if we didn't sign Legwand, Michalek, and Phillips, recently. You can even throw Neil into that group to some extent although he signed a couple of season earlier.

I'm even frustrated with the d-man situation as well with Cowen, Boro, Gryba, and Wiercioch playing musical chairs. We have way too much money tied up in guys who see the press box on a regular basis. Hopefully some moves are made to clear up a little room cap wise, especially with some of the RFAs we have to sign.

term maybe.....but hossa's deal is pretty sweet. would be considered cap circumvention right now, and almost was when it was signed.

he only makes 4 mil next year, and only 1 mil per for the last 4 years.
- sensarmy_11

Hossa > Michalek all day long. Why is this even being discussed?

Hossa > Michalek all day long. Why is this even being discussed?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

he said milo was our "hossa lite".....just a little joking after that.

Michalek had some value near the end of the season, but nothing to warrant the contract he has. Biggest issue for me.

It's amazing to think what we could or could've added if we didn't sign Legwand, Michalek, and Phillips, recently. You can even throw Neil into that group to some extent although he signed a couple of season earlier.

I'm even frustrated with the d-man situation as well with Cowen, Boro, Gryba, and Wiercioch playing musical chairs. We have way too much money tied up in guys who see the press box on a regular basis. Hopefully some moves are made to clear up a little room cap wise, especially with some of the RFAs we have to sign.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

i think michalek is a lot easier to stomach if greening, legwand, phillips, and neil aren't on the team...........and to a lesser extent, gryba and boro.

milo at 4 mil is perfectly fine (lots of WAAAAYYYYY worse deals around) but when you have another 10-12 mil tied up in dead weight, it makes it that much harder to swallow.

Ugh,
Back on the "let Condra walk" routine that we go through every off-season.

People need to get their heads out of their respective asses. You NEED guys like Condra- and he LIKES being here- why just let him walk? He'd gladly take a pay cut to stay here and play with the guys he's grown with. He's said that multiple times.

If you can sign a guy like Condra for 1-1.5m per year, you don't even think about it. He is literally the absolute perfect bottom 6 player.


Please just refrain from this whole dialogue- I'm so sick of it.

Ugh,
Back on the "let Condra walk" routine that we go through every off-season.

People need to get their heads out of their respective asses. You NEED guys like Condra- and he LIKES being here- why just let him walk? He'd gladly take a pay cut to stay here and play with the guys he's grown with. He's said that multiple times.

If you can sign a guy like Condra for 1-1.5m per year, you don't even think about it. He is literally the absolute perfect bottom 6 player.


Please just refrain from this whole dialogue- I'm so sick of it.
- Jordo

yup.....nothing to add, agree 100%

Ugh,
Back on the "let Condra walk" routine that we go through every off-season.

People need to get their heads out of their respective asses. You NEED guys like Condra- and he LIKES being here- why just let him walk? He'd gladly take a pay cut to stay here and play with the guys he's grown with. He's said that multiple times.

If you can sign a guy like Condra for 1-1.5m per year, you don't even think about it. He is literally the absolute perfect bottom 6 player.


Please just refrain from this whole dialogue- I'm so sick of it.
- Jordo

I agree but with limited spots as it is we can't sign him unless we can trade 2-3 guys out of here first. Plus you say if we can sign him at 1-1.5M, but on the open market and advanced stats beig the new crave I bet he can find something between 2-2.5M a year. Especially a team like New Jersey, Arizona or Florida who need to add salaries to make the cap floor.

I like Condra as much as the next guy and would rather have him on our 4th line than plenty of other guys, but I don't think we can fit him on our team for next year.

There is a log-jam for the bottom 6 forward roster spots. 8 guys are signed as bottom 6 guys, with a condra signing, that makes 9. Include the 2-3 prospects ready to make the jump from Bingo, there is potentially 11-12 guys fighting for those bottom 6 spots.

Hes not an important enough piece to sign back because 'he likes it here". Unfortunately for him, he can easily be replaced. The reality is, prospects can come up and do what he can do for half the cost. We saw it this year when puempel and prince were recalled.

Factor in all the RFA's that need signed, I believe that 1-1.5 mil could be used in negotiations for someone of more significance (stone, pageau, zibby)

Take the emotion of "he wants to be here" out of sport please. Its really not worth crying over. Its a business, which should be modeled around winning. As the way it stand now with the log jam, there is no room for a guy that doesn't bring something unique to the table. With all the RFA signings BM has on his plate and potential trades, I think the last thing BM is worried about is Condras feelings.

Ottawa isn't far off from being a real contender, like BM said, 1 top 6 forward away. its potentially exciting times in Ottawa as a fan. It will be very interesting to see what ends up happening, with whos getting shipped out and whos getting brought in.

2cents