The Ottawa Senators are already beginning to look for a blueliner to replace Anton Volchenkov, and the front office feels there's no better place to start than Zbynek Michalek.
Zbynek Michalek, brother of Milan, has been adamant about playing with his brother, which was the obvious connection between both entitites. Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson originally broke the story about the Senators and their efforts to woo Zbynek to O-town, which hit the scene just after Zbynek and Milan played together for the Czech Republic in the Olympics.
The only problem? Well, the asking price. It's rumored that Zbynek wants roughly $4,000,000 per.
That, my friends, is scary --- for a number of reasons. First, if Zbynek wants 4, then there is no way Anton is asking for anything less than 4.5-5. Secondly, are the Senators(and other franchises around the league) willin to pay that much money for a stay at home defenseman who doesn't set the world on fire in the points department?
Michalek had 17 points in 72 games this year, which is alright if players like Erik Karlsson and Chris Campoli continue to develop, and the Senators go for depth in the back rather than one complete shutdown blueline. Philchenkov for years stymied the opposition's best, but it remains to be seen if a pairing of Phillips and Michalek would have that same effect.
I don't know how comfortable I am with paying a guy like Zbynek four million per year, especially because of how close to the cap the Ottawa Senators already are. However, the fact is that if the Senators want to stay competitive, this is a move they have to make. If the Senators decide to pass on Zbynek or a similar player, they'll be forced to make do with a defense entirely comprised of spare parts. Never a recipe for success.
Furthermore, how many years does Michalek want? If he's asking for a long term contract, again the Senators may have to consider other options. Tying long-term money into another player that doesn't set the world on fire offensively could create a real cap situation in the future.
Zbynek Michalek is as solid a defenseman as it gets(on this market, at least), but is he worth four million? That's up to you. Give him an offer in the comments, or let the man walk!
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Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
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