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

Maybe.

his past couple seasons have been pretty disappointing and they were trying to include him in trade talks at the deadline

so, no

He will go to Buffalo.

Why? Because Tim Murray

Alice Hemsky is someone I have heard the Senators will try to keep.

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

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

Superstar???? I think he's a good player but come on.

He'd be on the third line on many teams.

He will go to Buffalo.

Why? Because Tim Murray
- buffalofan19

And I'm actually ok with that.

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

what the poop?

ummmm....
he was on his way to becoming a superstar....of course that was five to seven years ago, and before the knee surgeries. This is bordering on Richard Park territory Ek.

I suggest you change the headline to is Milan Michalek one of the best ufas available.....

He has no knees... this was his first healthy year.. like ever.. and it was a very disapointing one production wise.

i like michalek, he works hard, is responsible in all 3 zones, and at times can be a good sniper.

that being said, i don't think there's a chance in hell that he's a "late blooming superstar".

1. michalek has only ever produced when playing with very good offensively talented linemates (thornton, spezza). if a team signs him and then doesn't put him on the top line, you likely won't get many goals out of him. he's basically dany heatley light.

2. even when playing with high end linemates, he's incredibly inconsistent. he'll go on a 4 game goal scoring streak, and then won't score a goal for 15 games. even the big year he had in 11/12 (30 goals) he was very streaky.

3. injuries are always a concern, his knees have been operated on so many times i'm surprised he can still walk, let alone skate. every now and then he shows the speed he used to have, but it's just not there on a regular enough basis.

so, imo, michalek could be a good signing as a depth winger, on the 2nd or 3rd line.....a guy who'll contribute 15 or so goals, can kill penalties if required, and provides a veteran presence. i think if a team can get him at 4 mil or so, it's a low risk signing for a pretty decent all around player

Michalek might work well in Philly on a line with Giroux and Voracek.

That said, he's not going to be a superstar. That's some rarefied air you're proposing.

i like michalek, he works hard, is responsible in all 3 zones, and at times can be a good sniper.

that being said, i don't think there's a chance in hell that he's a "late blooming superstar".

1. michalek has only ever produced when playing with very good offensively talented linemates (thornton, spezza). if a team signs him and then doesn't put him on the top line, you likely won't get many goals out of him. he's basically dany heatley light.

2. even when playing with high end linemates, he's incredibly inconsistent. he'll go on a 4 game goal scoring streak, and then won't score a goal for 15 games. even the big year he had in 11/12 (30 goals) he was very streaky.

3. injuries are always a concern, his knees have been operated on so many times i'm surprised he can still walk, let alone skate. every now and then he shows the speed he used to have, but it's just not there on a regular enough basis.

so, imo, michalek could be a good signing as a depth winger, on the 2nd or 3rd line.....a guy who'll contribute 15 or so goals, can kill penalties if required, and provides a veteran presence. i think if a team can get him at 4 mil or so, it's a low risk signing for a pretty decent all around player
- sensarmy_11

Dany Heatley in his prime was one of the best wingers in the game. I'm not going to let the last 3 to 4 seasons ruin my views on him over the course of his first decade in hockey. I know few people mention it, but coupled with his lack of off season fitness, that car accident a decade ago is probably a major culprit to father time catching up to Heatley at a younger age than most.

i like michalek, he works hard, is responsible in all 3 zones, and at times can be a good sniper.

that being said, i don't think there's a chance in hell that he's a "late blooming superstar".

1. michalek has only ever produced when playing with very good offensively talented linemates (thornton, spezza). if a team signs him and then doesn't put him on the top line, you likely won't get many goals out of him. he's basically dany heatley light.

2. even when playing with high end linemates, he's incredibly inconsistent. he'll go on a 4 game goal scoring streak, and then won't score a goal for 15 games. even the big year he had in 11/12 (30 goals) he was very streaky.

3. injuries are always a concern, his knees have been operated on so many times i'm surprised he can still walk, let alone skate. every now and then he shows the speed he used to have, but it's just not there on a regular enough basis.

so, imo, michalek could be a good signing as a depth winger, on the 2nd or 3rd line.....a guy who'll contribute 15 or so goals, can kill penalties if required, and provides a veteran presence. i think if a team can get him at 4 mil or so, it's a low risk signing for a pretty decent all around player
- sensarmy_11

Contradict yourself much?

Contradict yourself much?
- mlindsay

how am i contradicting myself? i said, if you want the chance for him to put up big numbers, you have to put him on the top line. he's not a guy who's gonna put up 20-25 goals on the 2nd or 3rd line.

however, based on how he's played the last couple of years, he's ideally a 2nd or 3rd liner, who can score 15.

Dany Heatley in his prime was one of the best wingers in the game. I'm not going to let the last 3 to 4 seasons ruin my views on him over the course of his first decade in hockey. I know few people mention it, but coupled with his lack of off season fitness, that car accident a decade ago is probably a major culprit to father time catching up to Heatley at a younger age than most.
- mykokes

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.

how am i contradicting myself? i said, if you want the chance for him to put up big numbers, you have to put him on the top line. he's not a guy who's gonna put up 20-25 goals on the 2nd or 3rd line.

however, based on how he's played the last couple of years, he's ideally a 2nd or 3rd liner, who can score 15.
- sensarmy_11

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.

This is location-worthy.

how am i contradicting myself? i said, if you want the chance for him to put up big numbers, you have to put him on the top line. he's not a guy who's gonna put up 20-25 goals on the 2nd or 3rd line.

however, based on how he's played the last couple of years, he's ideally a 2nd or 3rd liner, who can score 15.
- sensarmy_11

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.

Define...superstar...

This is location-worthy.
- CaptainRivet

Do it up

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

i didn't say he was a good top line signing............i said if a team signs him in the hope of him producing, then he has to play on the top line.

if you can't see the difference, then i suggest you work on your reading comprehension......or perhaps i could draw you a little picture.