News:Milan Michalek sat out Sunday's practice in order to rest but will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Pittsburgh.
Analysis:Milan Michalek notched a goal and an assist during Ottawa's five-game series victory over Montreal, which followed up a 14-point, injury-plagued regular season. Since his knee injury has lingered throughout the 2013 campaign, a day of rest is preferable for his ultimate output.
News:Milan Michalek did not participate in the Senators' morning skate Sunday in preparation for Game 3 against Montreal, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek had missed nearly two months with a knee injury and finally made it back to the ice in mid-April. There have been no reports of another injury so this is probably just the team being cautious. He should be on the ice for the game Sunday night.
News:Milan Michalek snagged one of Ottawa's two goals in Friday's 2-0 win over New Jersey in his first game since February 12.
Analysis:Milan Michalek had missed two months of action but was able to easily finish a 2-on-0 with Daniel Alfredsson and should give the Senators another scoring forward as they aim to solidify a playoff spot. He'll get a chance to score often and will hopefully reward owners that have held out for his return.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will play in Friday's game against the Devils, Sportsnet's Ian Mendes reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek has played in just two games since Feb. 12 due to his knee injury, but he is ready to go after recovering from surgery and making it through Friday's morning skate. Michalek racked up 10 points and a plus-5 rating in the 15 games he appeared in this season, so he could provide a late-season boost for some fantasy owners.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) is close to returning, Ian Mendes of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: Mendes also mentions that it's up to Milan Michalek to give coach Paul MacLean the green light to play him, which suggests that he's already been cleared by doctors. It's certainly possible he could be in the lineup Tuesday against the Lightning, although Thursday against the Flyers or Friday against the Devils both seem like more likely options.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will not play Friday against the Sabres, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis: The winger practiced hard Thursday, and said he's much more comfortable skating on his surgically repaired knee than he was trying to play through the injury. Don't be surprised if he's in the lineup Sunday against the Panthers.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will travel with the team on the Senators' upcoming seven-game road trip.
Analysis:Milan Michalek skated in a track suit Monday to begin his rehab from arthroscopic knee surgery. Presumably, he will travel with the team to get some more skating in and possibly practice, but he is not expected to play any time soon.
News:Milan Michalek underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up debris in his right knee and will be out indefinitely.
Analysis: Though the Sens haven't ventured to guess when Milan Michalek might return, the fact that he underwent a scope, as opposed to a more major procedure, suggests that he could return at some point later this season.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will likely undergo knee surgery, the Ottawa Sun reports.
Analysis: The Sens' top goal scorer from 2011-12 has been trying to battle through a nagging knee injury, but he hasn't quite shaken the lingering effects. Milan Michalek has missed 13 games this season, but Ottawa is hopeful he will be able to return for the playoffs, even if he elects to have surgery.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) isn't expected to travel with the Sens to New York, where the team faces the Islanders on Tuesday, according to Ian Mendes of The Ottawa Citizen.
Analysis:Milan Michalek, who last suited up on March 8, remains in the day-to-day category for now, following a setback with his balky knee.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will not play Saturday and Sunday.
Analysis:Milan Michalek is still battling a knee injury and should continue to be considered day-to-day after the upcoming weekend's slate of games.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) is unlikely to play Wednesday against the Canadiens.
Analysis: Though Milan Michalek is not expected to play Wednesday, the report notes that he could be back in business by the weekend.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will miss Monday's game against the Bruins.
Analysis:Milan Michalek played in the Senators' last two games after returning from a knee injury, but missed the team's practice Monday after suffering a setback. He will be replaced in the lineup by Guillaume Latendresse, who is returning from a head injury.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will play Wednesday against the Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Sun reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek is finally ready to return from his knee injury, and head coach Paul MacLean said the Sens will find a place for him in the lineup. Michalek led the team in goals in 2011-12 with 35, but started 2013 off a little slower, registering just two goals and six assists in his first 13 games.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) believes he is ready to return to action and could play Wednesday against the Maple Leafs, the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Prior to going down on February 13, Milan Michalek scored eight points in 13 games. The potential return of Michalek would be a nice boost for the Senators, who have lost their last three games, scoring only four total goals in that span.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) practiced with the team Tuesday, Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis: The Senators have been careful with Milan Michalek, holding him out longer than he probably needed to, but judging by the fact that he practiced with the top line Tuesday, he should be back in the lineup soon.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) skated hard on Sunday and could return for Wednesday's game against Toronto, according to Ian Mendes of The Ottawa Citizen.
Analysis:Milan Michalek has eight points in 13 games this season. The Senators are being cautious with Michalek, who hasn't played in three weeks.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) could play Saturday or Sunday, the Ottawa Sun reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek skated Tuesday, and could travel with the team on their trip to Boston on Thursday. While he won't play against the Bruins, making the trip would allow Michalek to practice with the team, and could indicate that he will be available when the Senators play back-to-back games Saturday against the Flyers, and Sunday against the Islanders.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) could practice before the team heads to Boston for Thursday's game.
Analysis:Milan Michalek has missed over two weeks due to the injury. This news likely means that he will miss Monday's game against Montreal. He has been progressing well as of late, and it looks like a return is in the near future.
News:Milan Michalek (knee), already ruled out Saturday, is unlikely to play Monday.
Analysis:Milan Michalek has been out for more than two weeks after injuring his knee in warmups Feb. 13. He is said to making progress toward a return, though.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) is expected back next week, Ian Mendes of the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek will not be available for Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs, but could return as early as Monday to take on the Canadiens. The Sens will expect some offensive help from Michalek when he returns, after they way they've struggled since losing Erik Karlsson (achilles) for the year.
News:Milan Michalek (twisted knee) will not be available for Tuesday's game against the Islanders.
Analysis: Consider Milan Michalek -- who has eight points in 13 games to date -- day-to-day as Thursday's game against the Rangers approaches, though there is a possibility that it could be determined that a minor procedure could be on tap for him once he is re-evaluated this week.
News:Milan Michalek (twisted knee) will not play Monday against New Jersey and is also expected to miss Tuesday's game against the Islanders as well, Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: With Milan Michalek unavailable and the Sens already without Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza, offense could become even more difficult to come by. Beyond Tuesday, Michalek is considered day-to-day, but owners in weekly leagues should probably look elsewhere for the current lineup period.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) is not expected to play Monday against the Devils, the Ottawa Sun reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek didn't travel with the team to Toronto and probably won't have a chance at playing until the team's road trip comes to a close. He'll look to rest his knee over the next few days and potentially target a return Tuesday against the Islanders.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) will miss Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs, according to the team's official Twitter page.
Analysis:Milan Michalek hurt his knee in warmups Wednesday but indications are he could return to action for Monday's game against the Devils. Being that it seems to be a minor injury, he should only miss one or two games.
News:Milan Michalek (knee) is expected to only miss a game or two, Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun reports.
Analysis: The winger sat out of Wednesday night's game against the Penguins after injuring himself during the pregame warm-ups. The team is now describing the injury as a twisted knee, but they're hopeful the recovery process won't cost Milan Michalek more than a couple games.
Sens' Michalek Sitting Wednesday With Lower Body Injury
News:Milan Michalek will sit out Wednesday's game against the Penguins with a lower body injury.
Analysis:Milan Michalek reportedly suffered the injury during warmups. Consider the 28-year-old day-to-day for now, but perhaps the Senators will elaborate on the injury after Wednesday's game. Patrick Wierioch will fill in for Michalek against Pittsburgh.
News:Milan Michalek will not play Wednesday against the Penguins, Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis: There's been no word of an injury to Milan Michalek, so consider this a healthy scratch until there's indication otherwise. Patrick Wierioch will return to the lineup with Michalek sitting.
News: Though five games, Milan Michalek has put up five points, tied with three others for the team lead.
Analysis:Milan Michalek doesn't get as much pub as teammates Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, but he's the ultimate quiet producer. He put up 35 goals last season, and has 22 or more scores in five out of the last six seasons.
Sens' Michalek (Abdominal) Now Healthy, Expected To Join Czech Club
News:Milan Michalek is fully recovered from a torn abdominal muscle, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis: Now fully healthy, Milan Michalek is expected to join Budejovice of the Czech Republic in the coming days. Michalek previously played for Budejovice in 2002-03 before coming over to North America.
News:Milan Michalek (abdomen) says he could be back practicing with his locked-out teammates next week, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis: This would certainly be quite the change of course, as Milan Michalek underwent abdominal surgery recently that was supposed to sideline him for four-to-six weeks. It seems Michalek is ahead of schedule in his recovery thus far, but might not get clearance to practice until doctors are willing to give him a clean bill of health.
Ottawa's Michalek Out Four To Six Weeks With Abdominal Injury
News:Milan Michalek will need approximately four to six weeks to recover from an abdominal injury he suffered while training in Montreal in August, reports the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.
Analysis: He underwent surgery for the injury and won't be able to do much for the next month or so other than rehab.
News:Milan Michalek will not face disciplinary action from the NHL for kicking the Rangers' Dan Girardi in Monday's Game 6, Chris Botta of The New York Times reports.
Analysis: Since no hearing has been scheduled for Milan Michalek, he will be available for Thursday's decisive Game 7. Michalek has recorded a goal and an assist in six postseason contests to date.
News:Milan Michalek may face disciplinary action from the league for kicking the Rangers' Dan Girardi in Monday's Game 6, Darren Dregar of TSN.ca reports.
Analysis: The NHL is reviewing the incident. Dreger points out that Milan Michalek's foul was similar to one committed by Carolina's Jeff Skinner in March. Skinner received a two-game suspension, but it remains to be seen if the league will suspend Michalek for Thursday's crucial Game 7.
News:Milan Michalek scored a goal and added two assists in Saturday's win over the Penguins. The tally was his 33rd on the season.
Analysis: It was nice to see him tickle the twine -- he hadn't done that in his previous seven outings. He could be on the cusp of a nice run; make sure you get him into your lineup.
News:Milan Michalek collected an unorthodox hat trick Tuesday against Tampa Bay, as he scored his first goal of the game on the power play at 12:12 of the third period, then added two empty-net goals before time expired. He also picked up an assist.
Analysis: The points all count the same for fantasy purposes, and Milan Michalek has been piling them up over the last month -- he's got 17 points (nine of them goals) in his last 12 games, and with 32 goals on the year, he's tied with the Rangers' Marian Gaborik for fifth in the NHL.
Sens' Michalek Pots Pair In Win Over Caps Wednesday
News:Milan Michalek notched his 26th and 27th goals of the year Wednesday night in a 5-2 Ottawa win over Washington. His 27th goal set a personal single season record for goals in a season by the speedy winger.
Analysis: He also added an assist in Wednesday's win and now has points in five of his last six games, totaling four goals and five assists during that span.
News:Milan Michalek notched his 21st and 22nd goals of the season in Tuesday's win over the Penguins.
Analysis:Milan Michalek is just four goals shy of his career high, but has only eight assists on the season. After racking up 30-plus assists for three straight seasons in San Jose, he came to Ottawa and peculiarly just stopped assisting on goals. He's got only 35 assists to go with 62 goals in 171 games as a Senator. But as long as he's putting the puck to the back of the net, it's tough to complain.
News: In Milan Michalek's first game back from his concussion he lined up with Jason Spezza at center and Daniel Alfredsson on the other wing. He had an assist in a 6-2 loss to Montreal on Tuesday.
Analysis: He'll likely remain on the top line if it can produce on a consistent basis over the next few games. With 19 goals in 32 games, Milan Michalek is having by far his best season as a pro.
News:Milan Michalek (concussion) passed a baseline test and will be back on the ice for Ottawa Tuesday, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch's Twitter Feed.
Analysis: This is highly encouraging news for the Senators as they were hoping to receive Milan Michalek back prior to Christmas, but they will wait another few days. Michalek's symptoms have diminished and he is good to go.
News:Milan Michalek (concussion) will not return to game action until next week at the earliest, TSN's Brent Wallace reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek said his concussion symptoms have cleared, but he still needs a few practice sessions to get back into game shape after sitting out for a week. Michalek will miss games Thursday and Friday, but next Tuesday's game against the Canadiens looks like a likely target for his return.
News:Milan Michalek (concussion) said it's unlikely he plays Thursday night, but he didn't rule out a return Friday against the Hurricanes, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis:Milan Michalek got through Tuesday's practice without any complications, but the team will wait to see how he responds over the next day or two before making any final decisions.
News:Milan Michalek (concussion) skated on his own Tuesday morning and could possibly return to action for Friday's game against Carolina, reports the Ottawa Citizen.
Analysis: He'll miss his third straight game Tuesday night when the Senators play host to the Sabres. With 19 goals this season, Milan Michalek has been one of the keys to Ottawa's surprising success this season. The good news is that he should definitely be back after the Christmas break, so make sure to adjust your lineups accordingly.
News:Milan Michalek (concussion) skated on his own prior to Tuesday's morning skate, TSN's Brett Wallace reports.
Analysis: It's encouraging to see Milan Michalek on the ice, but he is unlikely to return to game action before taking part in a full practice. As such, expect Michalek to miss his third straight game Tuesday.
News:Milan Michalek (concussion) will not play in Wednesday's home game against the Bruins reports the Ottawa Senators. He suffered the injury after he crashed into Erik Karlsson during the second period of Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win against the Sabres.
Analysis: He played three more shifts after Tuesday's accident, but then left the game late in the second period and did not return. Milan Michalek leads all NHL players with 19 goals, but he did suffer a concussion two years ago. Head coach Paul MacLean did say Wednesday morning that Michalek was feeling better a day after the injury.
News:Milan Michalek scored in his 19th goal of the season in Tuesday's win over Buffalo, but left the game with an apparent upper-body injury after playing just 10:05.
Analysis: No word yet on the severity, or lack thereof, of the injury. He's been one of the league's leading scorers, so the Sens and fantasy owners alike are surely hoping it's not serious.
News:Milan Michalek grabbed a goal in Thursday's shootout loss to New Jersey, giving him a goal in five of the last six games.
Analysis:Milan Michalek has been one of the season's shockers so far, and his tally Thursday vaulted him into the league lead in goals. Once a consistent 20-goal scorer, Michalek has already tied last season's total of 18 and is well on his way to a career season. If you want to nitpick, Michalek has just six assists on the season.
News:Milan Michalek moved into a three-way tie for the NHL goal scoring lead as he scored his 17th of the year Wednesday night in a 5-3 loss to Washington. He's scored a goal in four of his last five games.
Analysis: He finished the night with six shots on net, but was a minus-2. Milan Michalek is on pace to shatter his personal best of 26 goals in a year which he set in the 2006-07 season while a member of the Sharks. And he's only one back of his previous year's total of 18 goals which took him 66 games to do.
News:Milan Michalek moved into a three-way tie for the league lead in goals with his 16th in an OT loss to Washington on Saturday night. He's on a three-game, four-goal streak right now.
Analysis: Wow -- he's one of the rare few who didn't lose even a fraction of a step after knee surgery. He's ripping it up right now and best of all, he's having fun. And that means there's a strong chance this can continue. Use him well.
News:Milan Michalek picked up his 15th goal of the season Thursday night in a 3-2 loss to the Stars. It was his third goal in two games.
Analysis: He now sits just one goal back of league leaders Phil Kessel and Steven Stamkos. If Milan Michalek were to remain healthy all year and continue at his current pace, he's on track for 49 goals. While that number is highly unlikely, he's shown the ability this year to score at a fairly consistent level, never going more than three straight games without a goal.
News:Milan Michalek scored two more goals in Tuesday's win over the Jets.
Analysis: After notching just 18 goals in 66 games last season, Milan Michalek is already up to 14 in 24 games this year. Though it's unlikely he maintains his current pace, if he stays healthy he'll likely top the 22 goals scored two seasons ago with the Sens.
News:Milan Michalek picked up his 11th goal of the season in Saturday's win over Toronto.
Analysis: It was an empty-netter but who cares? Eleven goals is an impressive total. He has three in his last four games and appears to have taken his game to a whole new level. We'll always worry a little about a possible injury but right now, he's fantasy gold.
News:Milan Michalek scored his 10th goal of the year in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: He finished the evening with a minus-1 rating and five shots on goal and was also named the game's third star.
News:Milan Michalek scored a pretty breakaway goal Saturday against Buffalo and added another in the shootout in a 3-2 loss.
Analysis: He'd gone three games without a goal but that was his longest drought of the year. He has nine goals and five assists in 15 games this year and is poised to set a new career best in points if he can continue his good work.
News:Milan Michalek tallied a goal and an assist in Saturday's victory over the Rangers.
Analysis:Milan Michalek is on a tear right now, picking up eight points (4G, 4A) in his last five games. He'll look to keep the hot streak going against the Maple Leafs on Sunday.
News:Milan Michalek continued his strong early play with a goal and an assist in Saturday's win over Columbus. He now has 10 points in eight games.
Analysis: Can he keep it up? Probably not but he could end up with the best totals of his career. And there's real fantasy value in that.
News:Milan Michalek scored two goals -- one on the power play, one into an empty net -- in Thursday's win over Winnipeg.
Analysis: He'd gone scoreless for two games after starting the season on a four-game points streak, but Milan Michalek got back on the board in a big way and now has five goals and three assists through seven games this year. He's threatening to finally get back the fantasy relevance that he's been missing for the past couple years.
News:Milan Michalek scored two goals, including one on the power play, in a 5-3 loss to Detroit Friday night.
Analysis: He also had six shots on net and was named the game's third star. Milan Michalek is completely healthy for the first time in years and worked hard in the summer to get ready for the season. He could be a nice pick up if he's still available in your league as he's playing with Jason Spezza and Nikita Filatov to start the year.
News:Milan Michalek picked up a goal and an assist Saturday in a preseason win over Montreal.
Analysis: He needs to play a physical game, something he's not typically comfortable doing, in order to truly exploit his talents. His streakiness makes him a challenging pick in head-to-head formats but he's still a top-six NHL forward. And that means he has the opportunity to deliver decent production as a late-round gem.
News:Milan Michalek is slated for a top-six role in Ottawa this season but that doesn't mean he'll skate beside Jason Spezza, reports the Ottawa Sun.
Analysis: New coach Paul MacLean knows that Milan Michalek, Spezza and captain Daniel Alfredsson make beautiful music together. "That's a place I can always go back to," said MacLean. "I know it works ... but is that the best thing for the team?" He will take a long, hard look at several forwards, including Nikita Filatov, Peter Regin, Bobby Butler and Mika Zibanejad, to see where the chemistry emerges. Michalek's best fantasy value really does lie with Spezza so watch camp very closely.
News: Michalek (foot) will play against Washington on Friday, OttawaSenators.com reports.
Analysis: Michalek generally only posts a point every other game, but he had seven in his last seven games prior to getting injured. He'll be there if you need him Friday, in any case.
News: Michalek (broken foot) could return to action as early as Thursday's game against the Rangers reports the Ottawa Citizen.
Analysis: The injury was originally supposed to take between four and six weeks to heal, but Michalek's recovery is at least a week ahead of schedule. He'll join the team on its road trip and while Tuesday's game against Carolina looks unlikely, there's an excellent chance the winger returns for Thursday's game against the Rangers.
News: Michalek (broken foot) will be out of action for four weeks which likely means he's done for the year reports Sportsnet's Ian Mendes.
Analysis: Before suffering the injury, Michalek had been playing his best hockey of the year after finally getting over his knee surgery of last spring. Look for him to be a key cog and leader for the Senators in 2011-12.
News: Michalek (foot) will be out for a significant amount of time reports TSN's Brent Wallace.
Analysis: It certainly sounds like Michalek suffered a broken foot during Ottawa's 4-1 win over the Flyers on Saturday, but an exact prognosis won't be known for a day or two. This is too bad for Michalek, as he was playing his best hockey of the year before he got injured.
News: Michalek, who took a shot off the foot Saturday, will have further tests done Sunday, the Toronto Sun reports.
Analysis: An update is expected Monday, but the Sens are obviously hoping that Michalek avoided a broken foot here.
News: Michalek left Saturday's win over the Flyers in the second period with a lower-body injury, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Analysis: The seriousness of Michalek's injury wasn't immediately known, so we'll consider the Sens' leading goal-scorer (he has 16 tallies) day-to-day.
News: Michalek has two goals in the last three games.
Analysis: Michalek, a former first-round pick, has seen a dip in total points in each successive year since his 2005-06 campaign with the Sharks. He'll look to maintain his hot streak Tuesday against the Ducks.
Sens' Michalek Capitalizing On Recent Opportunities
News: Michalek has picked up two goals in the Senators' last five games.
Analysis: The former first-round pick is starting to rebound after a poor start to the season. However, expect inconsistency in his pursuit to stay productive.
News: Michalek tallied two helpers in Saturday's win over Toronto.
Analysis: He has really scuffled this year, but Saturday he was impressive on a line with Mike Fisher and Alexei Kovalev. In fact, the trio accounted for every point the Sens picked up. Keep an eye on him next game -- he may be on the wire and he could just bring you some solid output in the near future. Or he could be a cheap throw-in in a trade.
News: Michalek (knee) returned to the Ottawa lineup Tuesday after missing the team's previous four games.
Analysis: Michalek looked healthy and he appears safe to activate should you need him.
News: Michalek will return to Ottawa's lineup Tuesday after missing four games with tendinitis in his knee reports Sportsnet's Ian Mendes.
Analysis: He'll line up on Ottawa's first line with Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher. You'll want to monitor Michalek's health closely over the next few games to make sure his knee doesn't act up on him again.
News: Michalek (knee) is hoping to take contact in practice Monday and could play Tuesday against Atlanta, the Ottawa Sun reports.
Analysis: "It's getting better and I'm feeling pretty good on the ice," Michalek said. "It's just a matter of getting better. I'm going to play sometime this week. That would be good." While Michalek is optimistic, still consider him questionable. Don't expect the organization to take any chances with his knee.
News: Michalek (knee) might suit up for next Thursday's game against Vancouver reports the Score.ca's Daniel Slater.
Analysis: Michalek has some tendinitis in the knee that was operated on over the summer so Ottawa is playing it safe and letting him rest it until the swelling is gone. Michalek does not want this to be an ongoing issue so it's a good move on both his and management's part.
Sens' Michalek Out At Least One Week With Knee Tendinitis
News: Michalek will be out of action for at least a week with tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee reports the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.
Analysis: He has some swelling in the knee that was operated on over the summer and will be gone for the next week of action if not a little longer. Michalek is having a so-so year with four goals and an assist in 10 games. Keep him on your bench for the time being.
Ottawa's Michalek Still Recovering From Offseason Knee Surgery
News: Michalek (knee) didn't skate at practice Thursday morning but will play Thursday night against Florida reports the Team 1200's Scott MacArthur.
Analysis: Head coach Cory Clouston told Ottawa media Thursday morning that Michalek's knee, which underwent off-season surgery, gets tender after games so he needs to rest it when possible. While Michalek's knee could become an issue this season, he hasn't missed a game yet and Ottawa's management will take all necessary precautions to ensure the knee is getting the treatment it needs. Play him as you normally would, but be sure to check his status from time to time.
News: Michalek scored twice in Saturday's loss to Montreal.
Analysis: He'd struggled up to this point in the season, at times looking lost on the Sens' first line. But he was much better Saturday. We're curious to see if he will continue the pattern he started to show last season and has started with again this year -- goals first with a lot fewer assists.
News: Michalek left Saturday's game in the second period for precautionary reasons, reports the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch via Twitter.
Analysis: Michalek is coming back from reconstructive knee surgery and the Sens are treating him with kid gloves. Fingers crossed there has been no setback in his recovery.
Ottawa's Michalek Returned to Action on Saturday Night
News: Michalek finished the evening with a power-play assist in over 19 minutes of ice time as Ottawa defeated Montreal 6-2 Saturday night.
Analysis: He looked good for his first game in over five months after going through major knee surgery in the offseason. Michalek doesn't seem to be impaired by the knee surgery as he was skating hard and fast all evening.
News: Michalek said Thursday that he is fully recovered from offseason knee surgery, OttawaSenators.com reports.
Analysis: He'll likely start on either the first or second line and see plenty of time on the first power play unit as well as on the penalty kill. If he's able to stay healthy, he could reach 25 goals and 35 assists.
News: Ottawa Senators forward Milan Michalek will miss the rest of the NHL playoffs because of a torn knee ligament that will require surgery. The Senators already were without another of their top six forwards. Alexei Kovalev also has a torn knee ligament, and defenseman Filip Kuba has an injured back.
Analysis: Michalek had been playing with a brace to protect the partially torn ligament in his left knee. Senators general manager Bryan Murray says the ligament was completely torn during the Senators' 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. Michalek needs an operation and won't return until next season. The injury puts a disappointing spin on Michalek's first season with the Senators. It started well for Michalek, who had 13 goals in his first 24 games, but his season turned in December and the injuries began to pile up. Michalek finished with 22 goals and 34 points -- his lowest total since racking up 35 points in his first full NHL season (2005-06). Michalek will be a low-end Fantasy flier on Draft Day and could also be an injury-risk option, if he doesn't recover in time for training camp.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek was back on the ice Thursday after missing nine games due to a knee injury. In 17 shifts against the Lightning, he finished at minus-1 with a blocked shot, winning 1 of 2 faceoffs in a 4-3 loss.
Analysis: Michalek's assist totals have really dipped this season, and he has just 34 points for the year. He is a low-end starting option in deeper leagues when healthy.
News: Sportsnet.ca reports that Senators RW Milan Michalek (knee) won't play Tuesday at Florida.
Analysis: Michalek doesn't appear to be far away from a return, but with their playoff ticket already booked, the Sens might choose to rest the winger until the postseason. While his assist totals have really dipped this season, Michalek remains a viable low-end starting option in deeper leagues when healthy.
News: NHL.com reports Senators RW Milan Michalek is progressing with his recovery from a left knee injury, and coach Cory Clouston said it is possible that Michalek might play next week. "Hopefully, he can play the last two or three games of the year, if he progresses the way he has so far," Clouston said.
Analysis: The Senators are gearing up for the playoffs, so getting Michalek back on the ice is vital, even if his scoring has been down as of late. There is no need to rush to grab Michalek off waivers for the final week of the season since he is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy flier.
News: Sportsnet.ca reports Senators RW Milan Michalek, who suffered a left knee injury on Thursday against the Thrashers, will be sidelined for at least two weeks. Coach Cory Clouston said he is "hopeful that rehab in the next two weeks will help Michalek avoid surgery that would sideline him for an extended period of time."
Analysis: Clouston added that the worst-case scenario is that Michalek will miss the rest of the regular season. While Ottawa would get Michalek back for the playoffs that wouldn't help Fantasy owners much. Michalek is tied with Mike Fisher for the team lead with 22 goals, but his production has slowed down dramatically since December. If you need to drop Michalek in Fantasy, then consider doing so.
News: Sportsnet.ca reports that Senators RW Milan Michalek's leg might be more damaged than initially feared. He missed a second straight game on Monday against the Canadiens and continues to wait for test results.
Analysis: Michalek has one goal and three points in his last five games, but he really has been a shell of the player he was through the first two months. He has been in a serious funk since December and has dealt with a few injuries along the way. It hasn't helped his cause that he has a career-low 34 points. Bench him for Fantasy Week 23 (March 22-28) and be prepared to possibly be without him for the rest of the Fantasy season.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Senators LW Milan Michalek missed Saturday's game against the Stars with a left leg injury he suffered Thursday in Atlanta. He is listed as day-to-day.
Analysis: Michalek has one goal and three points in his last five games, but he really has been a shell of the player he was through the first two months. He has been in a serious funk since December and has dealt with a few injuries along the way. Michalek has become a tough play in Fantasy. He is an injury-risk start for Week 23 (March 22-28).
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek scored a goal, tallied two assists and finished at minus-2 on Thursday against the Capitals. Michalek scored his 20th goal to put the Senators up 2-0 at 10:09. It was his third goal in eight games.
Analysis: We are waiting for the Michalek that totaled 13 goals and 18 points in his first 24 games to re-emerge. He really hit the skids in December and then got injured in January. He is starting to get back into form, but Michalek isn't producing at his early-season pace just yet. Until Michalek ramps up the multi-point efforts, he remains a low-end Fantasy start.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek scored a goal, tallied an assist and finished at plus-1 on Thursday against the Canucks. Michalek opened the scoring with a power-play goal 1:34 in. Daniel Alfredsson faked a shot before dishing off to Alexei Kovalev, who held the puck before feeding a pass to the slot which Michalek redirected past Andrew Raycroft for his 19th of the season.
Analysis: Michalek has recorded three goals and two assists in seven games since returning from a concussion. It seems the injury has actually awoken some dormant offensive skills that plagued Michalek during a scoring slump in December. Until Michalek ramps up the multi-point efforts, he remains a low-end Fantasy start.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek scored on the power play Thursday against the Blues in his return after missing seven games because of a concussion. Michalek scored 9 seconds after Jay McClement was sent off for high sticking in the second period. It was his lone point in 14:07 of ice time and also his first point in 10 games.
Analysis: Michalek really needed that goal on Thursday since his play has been suffering since the beginning of December. Hopefully, he can use it as a great confidence booster because we saw early in the season the type of damage Michalek could do. Feel free to insert him back into Fantasy lineups for Week 17 (Jan. 25-31).
News: The Toronto Sun reports Senators RW Milan Michalek is set to return from a concussion. Michalek, who has missed seven games since getting injured on Jan. 7, is expected to play on Thursday against the Blues. "I feel pretty good. It was good (Tuesday) and (Wednesday) when I've skated and I've felt pretty good," Michalek said.
Analysis: Hopefully the time off will be beneficial to Michalek, who hasn't managed a point in nine games and only three goals since Dec. 1. He was the Senators' most effective scorer through the first two months and a suitable replacement for Dany Heatley. Michalek has the ability to be a high-end Fantasy option when healthy, but expectations need to be kept in check until the veteran forward regains his form.
News: The Ottawa Sun reports that Senators RW Milan Michalek is progressing well from a concussion that has kept him out of the lineup for the last five games. There is no word on a timetable for the winger's return, however.
Analysis: Michalek is one of a number of injured guys for Ottawa who are starting to make their way back to full health. Once Jason Spezza is back, which could be very soon, Michalek should find himself on a solid top line with Spezza and Jason Alfredsson. Continue to stash Michalek in the majority of formats until he's back.
News: Sportsnet.ca reports Senators RW Milan Michalek will be out a few weeks after suffering an upper-body injury on Thursday against the Capitals. He suffered the injury when he was checked by Mike Green in the first period. Coach Cory Clouston said Michalek will not play Saturday against Florida and will not accompany the team on its five-game road trip, which begins Sunday in Carolina. The Senators are already down Daniel Alfredsson (shoulder) and Jason Spezza (knee). "That was our first line not too long ago," Clouston said. "We need other guys to step it up. We've taken out almost 100 goals from our lineup. That's still no excuse -- we still have to make the best with what we've got."
Analysis: Michalek leads Ottawa with 16 goals, but he has scored just once in his last 19 games. "When you lose a guy like Milan, it's not just taking him out of our lineup," Clouston said. "He plays power play, he does a real good job on the penalty kill. So now you're forced to put guys in different roles." Michalek is out until at least Jan. 19 against the Blackhawks, so remove him from Fantasy lineups until further notice.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek failed to record a point in 17:06 of ice time on Sunday against the Flyers. He also finished at even during a 7-4 win. Michalek has no points in seven games and only one goal since Dec. 2.
Analysis: It wasn't long ago that Ottawa was raving about Michalek and how much he meant to the team since losing Dany Heatley in the offseason. Then, Michalek went ice cold in December with three goals and four points in 17 games. He will look to snap out of his funk in January, but until Michalek gets back on track, he is a low-end Fantasy start.
News:The Sports Xchange reports when GM Bryan Murray was trying to grant Dany Heatley's wish and deal him in the summer, he maintained it would be impossible to get equal value back for the two-time 50 goal scorer. Through 25 games, however, it looks as if Murray did pretty well for himself. While he'd prefer not to be stuck with an underachieving, $3 million winger like Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek has given the Senators more than they imagined to this point. He scored both Ottawa goals in a 5-2 loss against his old team Tuesday in San Jose, giving him a team-leading 15 on the season. He has added the speed and penalty-killing abilities that were expected, but his highest goal total in four previous NHL seasons was 26. He could match that by the halfway point in the season.
Analysis: It took him awhile to gel with center Jason Spezza -- Michalek didn't have a single point through the team's first four games -- but he has since adhered to the coaching staff's instructions for going to the net. Most of his goals have come from right around the crease, on either deflections or pass conversions. "We're just trying to simplify our game," Michalek said. "At the beginning of the season we had a lot of chances, but nobody was going to the front of the net. We have to go to the front of the net." Michalek is only three goals behind Heatley, who did have a couple of assists in Tuesday's game. He'll be in tough to keep up the pace, but at 24 years old and with a manageable cap hit of $4.3 million until the 2014-15 season, he is brimming with potential. At the very least, it's going to be impossible to declare the winner of the Heatley-for-Michalek swap for a number of years. Michalek has become a nice start in Fantasy.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek scored twice and added an assist in Saturday's loss to the Bruins.
Analysis: Michalek is having a decent season so far with 18 points, which puts him on track for a career high. He remains worth using in most Fantasy leagues as a low-end starting forward.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek made it three straight games with a goal when he lit the lamp in Saturday's win over the Sabres.
Analysis: While Michalek hasn't been assisting much this season, he is now up to 10 goals. Continue to start him in deeper formats as a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy forward.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek made it back-to-back games with a goal when he scored in Thursday's rout of the Penguins.
Analysis: Michalek's goals have come in spurts this season and he'll need to pick up the pace a little if he's going to finish in the 50s for a third straight campaign. Continue to start him in deeper formats as a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy forward.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek scored a goal during Thursday's game against the Predators. Michalek tied the game at 3 as he beat Pekka Rinne on a wrist shot 8:10 into the third. All five of Michalek's goals have come in the last four games.
Analysis: Michalek is starting to settle into a groove with the Senators and becoming a nice scoring presence on the top line in place of Dany Heatley, who was dealt to San Jose in exchange for Michalek this offseason. While Michalek probably won't be as efficient as Heatley, he still passes as a solid No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy forward.
News:Milan Michalek made Ottawa Senators fans forget about high-scoring Dany Heatley -- at least for one night. Acquired at the start of training camp in the deal that sent Heatley to San Jose, Michalek had his first three-goal game in the NHL, scoring twice short-handed and once on a power play in Ottawa's 7-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday. "To see all the people standing and clapping for me was an awesome feeling," said Michalek said. "Hopefully, there's many goals to come." Michalek shoveled a rebound past goalie Mike Smith with Tampa Bay on the power play in the first period. The big Czech winger then beat Smith again on a short-handed breakaway early in the second, helping the Senators to their fourth win in five games. Michalek completed the hat trick when he converted a spinning pass from Jason Spezza during a third-period power play. "Two short-handed goals, it's embarrassing," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said.
Analysis: Michalek has four goals in his last two games after getting no points in his first four games with Ottawa. Michalek was a regular 20-goal, 50-point threat with the Sharks. He will likely keep that pace playing alongside Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Alexei Kovalev. However, we just aren't sure if Michalek will ever be a top goal-scoring threat. Consider him a No. 5 Fantasy forward.
News: Senators RW Milan Michalek scored his first goal of the season in Monday's loss to the Penguins.
Analysis: It's taken Michalek a few games to get used to playing with his new teammates this season, but he has a chance to put up some points this season alongside Jason Spezza on Ottawa's scoring lines. Continue to give Michalek a shot in deeper formats unless he really struggles.
News: The San Jose Sharks made the big move that has been expected ever since their best regular season ended with a first-round playoff exit, acquiring disgruntled winger Dany Heatley from the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The Sharks gave up Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second-round pick to acquire Heatley, who had been involved in a lingering dispute with the Senators because he felt he was not being properly used by the team. "It was tough. It wasn't the greatest summer. No question," Heatley said in a conference call Saturday. "I'm relieved and excited to be going to San Jose." Ottawa also sent San Jose a fifth-round draft pick. The long-rumored trade came on the opening day of training camp for Ottawa and ends a clash that has overshadowed the Senators in recent months. "I talked to Dany (Friday) and he was adamant that he wanted to be moved and we felt based on that, more than anything, that we should get the value that we could get for him and move on," Senators general manager Brian Murray said.
Analysis: Michalek, a 24-year-old winger from the Czech Republic, had 23 goals and 24 assists in 77 games last season. His salary is $3.5 million this season. Michalek isn't quite the talent of a Heatley, but he has broke 20-plus goals for three straight seasons and has yet to finish below even inf his career. He is a good 20-goal, 30-assist threat. Michalek remains a decent No. 4 Fantasy forward Draft Day.
News: The Senators traded disgruntled RW Dany Heatley to the Sharks on Saturday for RW Milan Michalek, RW Jonathan Cheechoo and a second-round pick.
Analysis: Heatley is finally out of Ottawa and will get to play alongside Joe Thornton in San Jose, where he could certainly have a chance to get back into triple-digit points once again. Continue to think of him as a solid top-end Fantasy winger. Cheechoo once came close to 100 points when he finished with 93 in 2005-06, but his career has been on the decline ever since. Hopefully this move east will do him some good and get him moving up the Fantasy value chart. Continue to draft him in deeper leagues, but now as more of a sleeper option than last year. Michalek has averaged just under 60 points over the last couple of seasons, but could see a boost in value if he sees plenty of time with Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza on the scoring lines. He remains a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward until we get to see how he gels in Ottawa.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored a goal, tallied an assist and finished at plus-2 during Sunday's 3-1 win against the Avalanche. Michalek put the Sharks back ahead in the final minute of the second period on a give-and-go with Alexei Semenov. It proved out to be Michalek's sixth game-winning goal of the season.
Analysis: Michalek has three goals and one assist during a three-game point streak. He has quietly posted 52 points this season and is trying for 60 points for the second time in three seasons. Michalek is a consistent top-six forward for the Sharks, but is more of a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek picked up a hat trick of assists Thursday in a loss to the Wild.
Analysis: Michalek now has nine points in his last nine games and is starting to look like the kid who totaled 66 points in 2006-07. Michalek is a consistent top-six forward for the Sharks, but is more of a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored his 17th goal of the season in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Senators.
Analysis: Michalek has been one top of his game over the last few weeks and is starting to look like the kid who totaled 66 points in 2006-07. Michalek is a consistent top-six forward for the Sharks, but is more of a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek tallied his 16th goal of the year in Thursday's win over the Kings.
Analysis: Michalek has been one top of his game over the last few weeks and is starting to look like the kid who totaled 66 points in 2006-07. Michalek is a consistent top-six forward for the Sharks, but is more of a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek failed to record a point and finished at even during Sunday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Devils. He has one goal and four assists in six February games.
Analysis: Michalek has been one top of his game over the last few weeks with six goals and eight assists in his last 13 games. He is starting to look like the kid who totaled 66 points in 2006-07. Michalek is a consistent top-six forward for the Sharks, but is more of a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News:Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek and former Boston captain Joe Thornton scored in a 6:16 span of the third period to rally the San Jose Sharks to a 5-2 victory over the Boston Bruins in a matchup of the NHL's top two teams on Tuesday. Michalek scored the eventual game winner 7:28 into the third period when he beat Tim Thomas high to the glove side. It was Michalek's 15th goal of the season and fourth in six games.
Analysis: Michalek has been one top of his game over the last few weeks with six goals and seven assists in his last 10 games. He is starting to look like the kid who totaled 66 points in 2006-07. Michalek is a consistent top-six forward for the Sharks, but is more of a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek assisted on each goal during Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Hurricanes. He has four goals and five assists in his last six games.
Analysis: Michalek has traded good and bad months all season, so if he stays true to form, February is supposed to be a slow time. He started well with the three assists and could be looking to set a new trend. He is a top-six forward for Anaheim and gets consistent scoring chances, but Michalek remains more of a No. 5 or No. 6 Fantasy forward until he finds consistency.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored twice in Tuesday's win over the Avalanche. He now has four goals and eight points in his last five games.
Analysis: Michalek has had decent stretches this season, but he also has long cold stretches. He's worth starting in deeper leagues simply because of the fact he plays for the Sharks, but don't rely on him for contributions every single week.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored and added two assists in Saturday's win over the Red Wings. He now has two three-point games in his last three.
Analysis: Michalek has 29 points this season and 10 in his last nine games. Still, he's a little too inconsistent to be worth using outside of the deepest of leagues just now.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored and added two assists in Tuesday's win over the Lightning.
Analysis: After a decent start to the year, Michalek went to sleep in December with just five points. Now he has five points in five January games, so maybe he's ready to regain his value as a decent low-end starting Fantasy forward in deeper leagues. Keep an eye on him over the next few games.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored in Monday's win over the Stars to reach 20 points on the season.
Analysis: Michalek had 10 points in November, but hasn't done nearly as well in December with just four points. He miss a few games with some soreness, and his stats have struggled since. Continue to hold onto him in deeper formats, but there are better starting options out there.
News: Sharks LW Milan Michalek returned to action Saturday against the Blues but didn't make any significant offensive contribution. Michalek had been out for about 10 days as he was "dinged up".
Analysis: Michalek was struggling in the month of December before the injury, and now he continued to struggle in his return on Saturday against St. Louis. He's nothing more than a No. 4 or No. 5 option until he starts getting in the stat book more often. He is alright to use for Week 13 (Dec. 29-Jan. 4) although he has been having his struggles.
News: Sharks LW Milan Michalek missed Thursday's game in Detroit as a precautionary move because he was sore. He must have still been sore on Saturday night against the Rangers, as he sat out that game as well.
Analysis: Michalek is having a rough December with no goals and three assists in seven games. Now, what was thought to be just a rest may be more. Michalek is not expected to be out long term, so don't worry too much in Fantasy. He remains more of a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy until he really heats up. You might not want to use him in the upcoming scoring period, however.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Sharks LW Milan Michalek missed Thursday's game in Detroit as a precautionary move. Michalek was "dinged up a bit," according to coach Todd McLellan.
Analysis: Michalek is having a rough December with no goals and three assists in seven games. McLellan was probably right to bench Michalek for a game so he could get mentally right. Michalek is not expected to be out long term, so don't worry too much in Fantasy. He remains more of a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy until he really heats up.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek tallied an assist and finished at even in 20:54 of ice time Saturday against the Oilers. He also spent two minutes in the penalty box. Michalek has a goal and four assists in his last five games.
Analysis: Michalek is a top-six forward with the Sharks, but he has been a little streaky this season. He does have 18 points and seven goals, but remains more of a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy until he really heats up.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek assisted twice in a 3-2 win over the Coyotes on Saturday night. Michalek, who was in a bit of a funk in early November, now has eight points in his last seven.
Analysis: Michalek is a top-six forward with the Sharks, but he has been a little streaky this season. San Jose is on fire right now though, so you could do a lot worse than starting Michalek in deeper leagues.
News:Milan Michalek and Joe Pavelski scored two goals apiece, and the San Jose Sharks' defense corps set a franchise record with nine assists in a 6-1 victory against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. Michalek scored with a breakaway 8:31 into the first period, using a slick hesitation move to force Miikka Kiprusoff to flinch before winging a shot past him. Michalek got another goal 78 seconds in the second period when the Flames defense broke down. Both of his goals were at even strength.
Analysis: Michalek hadn't scored in five games since totaling two goals Nov. 12 against the Avalanche. He now has five goals on the season, but they have come in just three games. Michalek does have 10 points in 16 games and is back to being a consistent top-six forward for San Jose. He has scored 20 goals in two straight seasons and is a decent No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored twice in San Jose's win over the Avalanche on Sunday.
Analysis: Michalek had only six points coming into Sunday's contest, so he's not thriving as much as some of the Sharks forwards are so far. Still, this could be a sign that things are looking up for the winger, so continue to start him in most formats as a nice No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek returned to the lineup Wednesday against the Flyers after missing two games with an upper body injury. Michalek didn't have a point and finished at minus-1 in 19:02 of ice time. He took two shots on net.
Analysis: It appears as though Michalek just dealt with a minor injury and it shouldn't be an issue that will linger long term. As a top-six forward for San Jose, Michalek has a lot of Fantasy potential. Consider him a nice No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward when healthy.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Flyers because of an upper-body injury. It was the second game in a row he missed this season. He is day to day.
Analysis: Michalek has gotten off to a very nice start in 2008-09 with one goal and three assists in four games. He is currently skating on the left wing of the second line for San Jose. His linemates are Joe Pavelski and Jonathan Cheechoo. Michalek is a decent scorer and is capable of putting 50-plus points on the board. Consider him a nice No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward. He remains an injury-risk start for Week 3 (Oct. 20-26).
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Ducks because of an upper-body injury. It was the first game he missed this season. He is day to day and questionable for Saturday against the Flyers.
Analysis: Michalek has gotten off to a very nice start in 2008-09 with one goal and three assists in four games. He is currently skating on the left wing of the second line for San Jose. His linemates are Joe Pavelski and Jonathan Cheechoo. Michalek is a decent scorer and is capable of putting 50-plus points on the board. Consider him a nice No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward. If he doesn't play Saturday, he remains an injury-risk start for Week 3 (Oct. 20-26).
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored a power-play goal during Tuesday's 5-2 rout of Columbus. Michalek scored on a shot that ricocheted off Columbus' Mike Commodore in the second period. It was his first goal of the season and fourth point.
Analysis: Michalek is currently skating on the left wing of the second line for San Jose. His linemates are Joe Pavelski and Jonathan Cheechoo. Michalek is a decent scorer and is capable of putting 50-plus points on the board. Consider him a nice No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek tallied two assists and finished at plus-1 in 17:26 of ice time Thursday against the Ducks. He took one shot on net.
Analysis: Michalek is currently skating on the left wing of the second line for San Jose. His linemates are Joe Pavelski and Jonathan Cheechoo. Michalek is a decent scorer and is capable of putting 50-plus points on the board. Consider him a nice No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports that new Sharks head coach Todd McLellan has released his first depth chart for the 2008-09 season. The first two lines are comprised of Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe as wingers on the top line with Joe Thornton in the center, and Joe Pavelski has drawn the role of second-line center with Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo as his wingers.
Analysis: The Sharks thought so much of Michalek after he totaled a career-high 66 points in 2006-07, they decided to lock him up through the 2013-14 season with a six-year contract extension. While he didn’t have as good an offensive season in 2007-08, Michalek still performed well with 24 goals, 31 assists and a career-high plus-19 rating. The Sharks still view him as a top-six skater and he is worth a look as a No. 4 Fantasy forward Draft Day.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek tallied an assist for a third straight game Tuesday as San Jose fell 5-4 in OT to the Coyotes.
Analysis: Michalek has 51 points this season, which is still 15 behind his total of 66 from last season. After getting off to a slow start this season, he has been a steady offensive weapon since December and is worth using as a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored a goal, added an assist and finished at plus-3 during Friday's game against the Blues. Michalek scored on the opening shift, San Jose added three more goals in its highest-scoring period of the season and the Sharks coasted to their franchise-record 11th straight victory, 4-1 over the Blues. San Jose's top line led by Joe Thornton applied heavy pressure on the opening shift and it paid off when Campbell fed Michalek, who beat Hannu Toivonen into the top of the net just 1:10 into the game.
Analysis: Michalek now has a goal in three straight games and has at least one point in five of the last six contests. He has three goals and three assists in that span. Michalek has been a steady offensive weapon since December and is worth using as a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News:Douglas Murray and Milan Michalek scored goals 42 seconds apart early in the third period to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. Michalek's 20th goal seemed to trickle through Martin Biron's legs for a 2-1 lead only 3:35 into the third. The Sharks needed only 42 seconds to score again, this time when Murray's first career goal appeared to bounce off Biron into the net like a basketball bank shot.
Analysis: Michalek is having a less than productive season after posting 66 points last season, but the Sharks have struggled as a team offensively in 2007-08. Michalek has been one of the few bright spots since December. Playing on the top line with Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo, he has 13 goals and 16 assists in the last 35 games. Consider Michalek a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek had an assist Sunday against the Rangers to extend his points streak to four games. He also finished at plus-1. He now has two goals, four assists and a plus-4 rating during his points streak.
Analysis: Michalek is having a disappointing season after posting 66 points last season, but the Sharks have struggled as a team offensively in 2007-08. Michalek has been one of the few bright spots since December. He has 28 points (12 goals) in his last 34 games, and still skates on the top line with Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo. Consider him a No. 3 or No. 4 Fantasy forward.
News:Milan Michalek had a goal and two assists for San Jose on Thursday in the 4-1 win over the struggling St. Louis Blues. Michalek has three goals and four assists in six games.
Analysis: Michalek, who has 17 goals and 15 assists, is still behind his pace of last season's 66 points, but maybe these last few games might get him going again. He is a No. 3 Fantasy forward at the moment.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek claimed two assists for the second straight game Monday night when he helped out on two goals in a 3-2 win over the Wild. He now has a five-game points streak.
Analysis: Michalek has eight points in his streak after having seven points in his previous 19 games. He still quite a way behind his pace of last season's 66 points, but maybe this latest hot run is a sign of good things to come. He is a No. 3 Fantasy forward at the moment.
News: LW Milan Michalek was denied on a penalty shot by Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere on Sunday night. Michalek was awarded the one-on-one shot with only 27 seconds remaining in the opening period after getting hauled down from behind while on a breakaway.
Analysis: Michalek had a rocky November because of an elbow injury, but appears at 100 percent and finally producing. He can be treated as a high-end Fantasy option.
News: Against the Canucks Thursday, Milan Michalek scored for the Sharks, who won back-to-back home games for only the second time all season to stay in a first-place tie with Dallas in the Pacific Division, passing Vancouver for second place in the conference standings. "It feels good we got some wins at home, and it's going to continue like that," Michalek said. "We were talking about it before the game, (how) we had to come out hard on them because they played the night before."
Analysis: Michalek showed why he's one of the NHL's most highly regarded young forwards with a stunning move to open the scoring midway through the first period. He collected Joe Thornton's pass on a power-play rush and left D Willie Mitchell flat-footed, turning the corner for his 10th goal. Michalek had a rocky November because of an elbow injury, but appears at 100 percent and finally producing. He can be treated as a high-end Fantasy option.
News:Milan Michalek's goal with 15 seconds left in the second period was the difference in the Sharks' fifth consecutive road victory, 1-0 Friday against the Coyotes. Michalek, who scored his ninth goal of the season, slipped a wrist shot past Iyla Bryzgalov from about 10 yards in front of the net, with a slick assist from Joe Thornton.
Analysis: Michalek is on a four-game points streak in which he has two goals and three assists. He also has three goals in his last six games. He had a rocky November because of an elbow injury, but appears at 100 percent and finally producing. He can be treated as a high-end Fantasy option.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek finished with two assists and a minus-1 rating during Friday's game against the Avalanche. It was his first assist since Oct. 29 against the Stars.
Analysis: Michalek recently returned from a strained elbow and has three points (1 G, 2 A) in three games. He is plenty capable of being a Fantasy friendly player and appears to have recovered from his minor injury.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek was back in the lineup Saturday against the Kings after missing the previous three games with a strained elbow. Michalek scored a goal on a one-timer and finished at plus-1 during 21:37 of ice time.
Analysis: Michalek showed a lot of power on his one-timer and clearly demonstrated that he has recovered from the elbow injury. It appears safe to activate him in Fantasy lineups. Consider him a high-end Fantasy forward.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek missed a third consecutive game Saturday against the Ducks with a strained left elbow.
Analysis: Michalek has been held off the stat sheet in six November games, but is usually a decent stat producer when healthy. He remains day to day and likely shouldn't be starting in leagues for Fantasy Week 8 (Nov. 19-25) since the Sharks play just one game.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek missed a second consecutive game Thursday against the Coyotes with a strained left elbow.
Analysis: Michalek has been held off the stat sheet in six November games, but is usually a decent stat producer when healthy. He remains day to day.
News: The Sports Xchange notes: With a number of young forwards off to slow starts, the last thing the Sharks need is left wing Milan Michalek to remain sidelined for long. Michalek scored six goals in the team's first nine games, then hit a drought by producing only one point (an assist) in his next eight contests before straining his left elbow on his first shift Monday night. Michalek has accompanied teammates on the current two-game trip, but he didn't play Wednesday night in Dallas and is questionable for Thursday's stop in Phoenix. Michalek did not participate in Wednesday's morning skate, either.
Analysis: Besides his scoring potential, the thing the Sharks miss most is Michalek's breakneck speed, which is essential to execute coach Ron Wilson's system. "I've never seen a guy go from zero to full speed in three strides, and he has that ability," Roenick said. "I'd say 98-99 percent of the players need half a zone -- five or 10 strikes -- before they hit their peak. Milan can do it within three. Defensemen have fits with guys like that." Coach Ron Wilson has experimented with a number of different linemates to flank top-line center Joe Thornton, but Michalek has remained a constant to the All-Star's left since midway through last season. "His speed just creates so much more for me," Thornton said. "He backs everything off and slows the game down for me." Michalek has been held off the stat sheet in six November games, but is usually a decent stat producer when healthy.
News: LW Milan Michalek was out of the Sharks lineup Wednesday against the Stars after missing most of Monday night's win over Phoenix with a strained elbow.
Analysis: Michalek has been held off the stat sheet in six November games, but is usually a decent stat producer when healthy. He remains day to day.
News: Monday's game between the Sharks and Coyotes in San Jose became heated early when Shane Doan hit Milan Michalek during the first shift, sending him to the locker room with a strained left elbow. "These are two competitive teams and both of us were playing hard," Sharks center Torrey Mitchell said. "When it gets like that, things can get chippy."
Analysis: Michalek remains a must-start in most formats despite some shaky early play. He has six goals on the season.
News: Milan Michalek scored two goals -- one shorthanded -- to lead the Sharks to a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday night. With San Jose leading 1-0 in the second period, Michalek delivered a critical blow with the short-handed goal at 7:33. Calgary deployed four forwards on the power play, and the move backfired when Alex Tanguay mishandled the puck at the Sharks blue line. Michalek scooped up the turnover and broke down the wing, scoring on his own rebound against Miikka Kiprusoff. "They have a pretty good power play at home so that was a very important goal for us to get," Michalek said.
Analysis: Sharks coach Ron Wilson said he hoped this will be the breakout game for Michalek. "He scored, he blocked shots, he was making plays killing penalties on the power play, he played really well (Monday). It was easily his best game of the year," Wilson said. It sounds like the coach was pleased with his effort and his Fantasy owners are likely right there with him. He remains a must-start in most formats despite some shaky early play.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek scored San Jose's lone goal Saturday against the Bruins. He has now scored three goals in his last two games after going without a goal in his first three games.
Analysis: Michalek was hampered in the preseason with an arm injury, but has been in the lineup for all five of San Jose's regular-season contests. Coach Ron Wilson switched up his lines, moving Michalek onto the second unit with Steve Bernier and Patrick Marleau and they have seemed to click in the last two games. The addition of Marleau can do wonders for a players Fantasy value. Michalek remains a viable Fantasy option at this time.
News: Milan Michalek, who had been hindered by an arm injury, scoring his first two goals of the season in Wednesday's game at Chicago, including the game-winner. "It's nice I scored (Wednesday)," he said. "It's good for my confidence. I had some chances in our first three games."
Analysis: Michalek's goals were his first two of the season. He was hampered in the preseason with an arm injury, but has been in the lineup for all four of San Jose's regular-season contests. Coach Ron Wilson switched up his lines, moving Michalek onto the second unit with Steve Bernier and Patrick Marleau and they seemed to click. The addition of Marleau can do wonders for a players Fantasy value.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Ron Wilson has moved Patrick Marleau off of the team's top scoring line with Jonathan Cheechoo and Joe Thornton, replacing him with tough guy Ryane Clowe. Marleau will now join the No. 2 line with Steve Bernier and Milan Michalek.
Analysis: Bernier has just an assist and six penalty minutes through three games heading into Wednesday's game at Chicago. Despite the slow start, he remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues. The addition of Marleau to his line should help tremendously, perhaps as soon as the Blackhawks game.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek is still looking for his first goal after two games, but did manage to pick up his first assist and finish with a plus-1 rating Friday against the Canucks.
Analysis: We wouldn't worry too much about a slow start for Michalek. He remains a must-start in most Fantasy leagues. He showed a lot of potential during a career-high 66-point output in 2006-07.
News: Milan Michalek (arm) was able to return to the lineup over the weekend for the Sharks. He finished the preseason scoreless in two games with six penalty minutes.
Analysis: We wouldn't worry too much about a slow start for Michalek. He remains a must-start in most Fantasy leagues. The Sharks open the regular season on Oct. 4 at Edmonton.
News: Milan Michalek (arm) was unable to play in Wednesday's preseason game at Vancouver, missing his fifth straight game. However, the injury is not considered serious and he is mostly being held out as a precaution.
Analysis: Michalek remains day to day. However, he is a risky play in all Fantasy leagues for the first scoring period of the season unless he is able to play in the preseason finale on Sept. 29 against the Flames. Since that game starts after the lineup deadline for Fantasy Week 1 (Sept. 29-Oct. 7), you might want to avoid him to be on the safe side.
News: An arm injury has limited Milan Michalek to just one preseason game so far for the San Jose Sharks. He is questionable for Tuesday's preseason game at Calgary.
Analysis: Michalek is considered day to day. He remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues heading into the regular season and should find himself on one of the top two scoring lines. Target him in Rounds 5 through 7 on Draft Day in all formats.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Milan Michalek was forced to leave Tuesday's preseason game due to a minor arm injury. He missed Wednesday's game, but was not expected to play anyway.
Analysis: Michalek is considered day to day. He remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues heading into the regular season and should find himself on one of the top two scoring lines. Target him in Rounds 5 through 7 on Draft Day in all formats.
News: Milan Michalek agreed to a long-term contract extension with the San Jose Sharks on Friday. The Sharks refused to disclose terms of the deal, but Michalek's agents told Czech media outlets they agreed to a six-year extension.
Analysis: Michalek is perhaps the Sharks' most valuable young talent after two full NHL campaigns. He had career highs of 26 goals and 40 assists last season, finishing with a plus-17 rating while mostly playing on San Jose's second line with captain Patrick Marleau. He is a tremendous player to target in the neighborhood of Rounds 5 through 7 in most seasonal Fantasy leagues.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek had one goal and set up two others in the San Jose Sharks' 5-1 victory Thursday night that ended the Atlanta Thrashers' franchise-record, home-winning streak at seven. He is currently on a six-game points streak in which he has five goals and nine assists.
Analysis: Michalek has been strong as of late and has become a high-end Fantasy option in this his third year in the league. He now has 23 goals and 37 assists in 71 games.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek has two goals in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Blackhawks. He is currently on a five-game points streak in which he has four goals and seven assists.
Analysis: Michalek is having the best season of his career. He has 22 goals and 35 assists. He has become a high-end Fantasy option in most formats.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek ran his points streak to three games with two assists in Friday's 2-0 win over the Blue Jackets. He now has one goal and six assists during his points streak.
Analysis: Michalek is having the best season of his career. He has 19 goals and 34 assists. He has become a high-end Fantasy option in most formats.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek had three assists on Thursday against the Coyotes. He now has two goals and four assists in his last five games.
Analysis: Michalek is having the best season of his career. He has 19 goals and 32 assists. He has become a high-end Fantasy option in most formats.
News: Milan Michalek picked up a pair of goals and a plus-1 rating with a game-high nine shots on goal in 21:35 of ice time in Monday's game against the Ducks.
Analysis: Michalek ended a four-game scoreless run and an eight-game goal drought. He remains a solid No. 4 or 5 Fantasy forward in most formats.
News: Steve Bernier (toe) has been recalled from Worcester of the AHL, where he was on a conditioning stint. According to sjsharks.com, Bernier will skate with Patrick Marleau and Milan Michalek on the second scoring line.
Analysis: Michalek has struggled a little bit lately, so hopefully skating with his old pal Bernier and the talented Marleau will jump-start him for the stretch run.
News: RW Milan Michalek, LW Pat Rissmiller, C Joe Thornton and D Marc-Edouard Vlasic all picked up an assist in Sunday's game at Dallas. Rissmiller has a plus-1 rating while the other three had a minus-2.
Analysis: Michalek has two goals, five points with an abysmal minus-11 rating over the past eight games. Once the Sharks start scoring again, he'll be a decent play in most Fantasy leagues.
News: Milan Michalek has managed 13 goals and 34 points with a plus-6 rating and 22 penalty minutes through 44 games at the All-Star break.
Analysis: Michalek is tied for third on the Sharks with All-Star Jonathan Cheechoo in points. Not too shabby. He has emerged as a solid play in most Fantasy formats.
News: Milan Michalek (groin) was back in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Oilers. He was scoreless with a shot on goal in 10:33 of ice time.
Analysis: Despite the lack of ice time, which was a result of the team bringing him along gradually, he remains a decent play in most Fantasy leagues.
News: Milan Michalek missed Saturday's game against the Blue Jackets due to a groin injury. He was replaced in the lineup by Ville Nieminen (lower body), who was activated from injured reserve.
Analysis: Michalek is considered day to day. Keep him reserved for Fantasy Week 15 (Jan. 8-14) if you have healthier alternatives.
News: Phoenix D Zbynek Michalek had two assists, but was penalized in the second period of Thursday's game at San Jose for high-sticking his brother, Sharks RW Milan Michalek.
Analysis: Michalek remains a solid No. 3 or 4 Fantasy forward in all leagues.
News: Sharks RW Milan Michalek (arm) returned to action on Wednesday against the Wild. He logged 14:23 of ice time and finished with an even-rating.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Michalek back into your active Fantasy lineup.
News: Milan Michalek (arm) was unable to play in Tuesday's game at St. Louis, as he remains on injured reserve.
Analysis: Michalek remains day to day. Keep him reserved in all Fantasy leagues until he can officially return.
News: Milan Michalek (arm) was officially placed on injured reserve on Monday, although the move is retroactive to Nov. 22.
Analysis: The move was simply made to allow them a roster spot to recall Josh Gorges just in case. Keep Michalek reserved in all Fantasy leagues until he can officially return and prove his health.
News: The San Francisco Chronicle reports Milan Michalek has a bruised arm and not a serious injury. An MRI revealed no structural damage to his elbow after a hard hit last Wednesday forced him out of the lineup.
Analysis: Michalek has missed the past two games due to the injury. He is considered day to day, but is a risky play for Fantasy Week 9 (Nov. 27-Dec. 3) until he can officially return to the lineup.
News: Milan Michalek picked up three assists with a plus-2 rating in 14:05 of ice time in Thursday's game at Los Angeles.
Analysis: Michalek has emerged as a must-start in all Fantasy leagues this season. If he is still available, scoop him up immediately.
News: Milan Michalek has managed six goals and 10 points with a plus-4 rating in nine games, posting at least one point in seven of those contests. Four of his six goals have actually come on the power play.
Analysis: Michalek has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) and a plus-4 rating through the first nine games. He is a must-start in all Fantasy leagues right now while he is red-hot. If he is available in your league, pounce on him immediately.
News: San Jose's Milan Michalek he been on a tear to open the season. He tallied his fourth power-play goal in the win over the Red Wings on Thursday, matching his total in 81 games last season. The right wing also leads the team with six goals in only seven games - it took him 42 games in 2005-06 before he scored his seventh goal.
Analysis: Michalek has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) and a plus-4 rating through the first seven games. He is a must-start in all Fantasy leagues right now while he is red-hot. If he is available in your league, pounce on him immediately.
News: Milan Michalek scored a power play goal (5) and he had two assists in Thursday's game against Detroit. He has a career-best five-game scoring streak. Four of his six goals are power-play scores.
Analysis: Michalek has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) and a plus-4 rating through the first seven games. He is a must-start in all Fantasy leagues right now while he is red-hot. If he is available in your league, pounce on him immediately.
News: Milan Michalek scored his fifth goal of the season and added a plus-1 rating in Tuesday's game against the Stars.
Analysis: Michalek has seven points (5 G, 2 A) and a plus-4 rating through the first six games. He is a must-start in all Fantasy leagues right now while he is red-hot. If he is available in your league, pounce on him immediately.
News: Steve Bernier and Milan Michalek scored a goal while taking two shots each in Monday's game at Calgary. Bernier was a plus-1, while Michalek had a plus-2 in the win.
Analysis: Bernier and Michalek are rolling along on the team's second line right now and are worth using in most Fantasy leagues while they are hot.
News: Steve Bernier scored three goals in Wednesday's preseason game at Calgary. He is skating on a line with Patrick Marleau and Milan Michalek, which rang up nine points against the Flames.
Analysis: If Michalek sticks on the team's second scoring line, he might be worth as much as a middle-round pick on Draft Day. Keep an eye on this second line, as it has the potential to be one of the strongest in the NHL.
News: Milan Michalek (flu) was able to play in Tuesday's game against the Red Wings. He was scoreless with a minus-1 rating and six shots on goal in 15:43 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Michalek back into the active Fantasy lineup in all larger leagues which allow daily transactions.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Milan Michalek missed practice on Sunday due to the flu, although he might be ready for Tuesday's game against Detroit.
Analysis: Keep Michalek reserved in all larger Fantasy leagues for the upcoming scoring period.
News: Milan Michalek has 12 goals and 11 assists with a plus-2 rating in 55 games at the Olympic Games break.
Analysis: The Sharks have a good one in Michalek for the long-term, but right now he is only worth a roster spot in larger weekly Fantasy formats and keeper leagues.
News: Milan Michalek scored a goal and was a plus-1 in Monday's game against the Flames, ending a six-game scoreless streak.
Analysis: Michalek does not contribute consistently enough to warrant Fantasy consideration in anything but the largest of formats.
News: Milan Michalek will miss the rest of the season after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee Saturday.
Analysis: Michalek will rehab for about four months and should be ready to play at the start of next season. He is an excellent prospect worth a look in larger keeper leagues.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Milan Michalek (knee) participated in the team's morning skate on Tuesday for the first time since sustaining his injury.
Analysis: Michaelek has still not been cleared for contact drills and coach Ron Wilson told the paper it would be at least a week before he gets the nod. Keep the promising rookie reserved in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Milan Michalek (knee) will be out four months after having surgery to repair a torn knee ligament.
Analysis: Michalek no longer has any Fantasy value except in larger keeper leagues.
News: The Sharks placed Milan Michalek (knee) on injured reserve on Thursday, retroactive to Saturday. He isn't eligible to return until at least Tuesday.
Analysis: Michalek only warrants Fantasy attention in keeper leagues when healthy.
News: Milan Michalek (knee) will miss Thursday's game against Philadelphia, according to the San Jose Mercury News. "He probably won't be playing Saturday against Ottawa, either," coach Ron Wilson said.
Analysis: Michalek is only a useful keeper-league player, and he shouldn't be on Fantasy rosters that draft yearly.
News: Milan Michalek missed Sunday's game in Minnesota with a right knee injury he suffered the night before. His status is day to day.
Analysis: Even when healthy, Michalek's Fantasy value is limited to larger keeper formats.
News: Milan Michalek punched home a rebound in the third period to score in his NHL debut.
Analysis: Michalek was the sixth overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft from Budejovice of the Czech Republic. He is worth a roster spot in larger keeper leagues.
