Senators talking contract with Michalek
OTTAWA — Milan Michalek could return to the Ottawa Senators next season.
The forward is in the midst of negotiations on a new contract to be signed before he becomes a free agent July 1.
If the Senators keep the 29-year-old left winger, they’ll keep at least one third of the top line which finished out the 2013-14 season.
Top centre Jason Spezza is on the trade market and is expected to be moved at or before next weekend’s NHL entry draft. Not surprisingly, Ales Hemsky has rejected a contract offer from the Senators — TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Monday the offer was a three-year, $10 million deal — meaning he will likely test the market.
If the Senators keep Michalek, they’ll at least a retain a veteran who has a proven history of scoring. He played in all 82 games last season, rebounding after a slow start to score 17 goals and 22 assists. The late push came alongside Spezza and Hemsky. He scored seven goals and five assists in his final 19 games.
Michalek, drafted sixth overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2003, originally came to the Senators in the Dany Heatley trade. His best year with the Senators came in 2011-12, when he scored 35 goals and 25 assists, but his Senators career has been plagued by knee problems. THE SPEZZA WATCH
Jason Spezza has added Florida, Columbus, Nashville and the New York Islanders to the list of 10 teams he won’t accept a trade to — a provision in the no-trade clause in his contract. TSN’s Darren Dreger made the comments in an interview on an Edmonton radio station. It has generally been assumed Spezza has the other six Canadian markets on his notrade list.
St. Louis and Anaheim remain the most likely destinations. While the Blues and Ducks are close to winning the Stanley Cup, they also have young players and prospects which would interest the Senators. RICHARDS STAYING IN NEW YORK?
Pat Morris, agent for New York Rangers centre Brad Richards, told Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 Tuesday that “gut feeling, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s kept,” on whether the Rangers buy him out of his existing contract.
Richards has six years and $40 million remaining on his contract.
The Rangers are also dealing with the fact Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and Benoit Pouliot are due to become unrestricted free agents and Chris Kreider, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello are restricted free agents. Something has to give for the Stanley Cup runners-up and an expensive Richards buyout appears the most likely option. MORE O’REILLY INTRIGUE
Get set for another contract fight between Ryan O’Reilly and the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche have elected to go to salary arbitration with the 23-yearold centre in July — unless a deal can be worked out beforehand.
O’Reilly, a pending restricted free agent, made $6.5 million with Colorado last season, when he scored 28 goals and 36 assists in 80 games. If the Avalanche won at arbitration, O’Reilly would make $5.25 million.
However, if O’Reilly is unsigned by July 1, there’s a four-day window for another team to give him an offer sheet.
It was a Calgary Flames offer sheet which forced the Avalanche to match and give O’Reilly his current contract.