Michalek exploring free agency window
Senators could lose their top line
With a Jason Spezza deal looming, the Senators might lose all three members of their top line from last spring.
Winger Ales Hemsky, acquired at the trade deadline from the Edmonton Oilers, has already rejected an offer from Ottawa, with an expressed interest in exploring free agency.
Now, winger Milan Michalek, the key piece in the Dany Heatley trade of 2009, is making use of the pre-July 1 interview window to speak to other teams. This process, which allows players and their agents to get a sense of outside interest prior to the July 1 free agency period, was the first step taken by former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson before he left last summer for a freeagent contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
Wednesday was the first day of the free agent interview window.
While the 29-year-old Czech native has expressed interest in returning to Ottawa, Michalek will at least gauge interest before he is eligible to become a free agent.
The Senators are still having discussions with Michalek’s agent, Allan Walsh, and want Michalek back but say they have limits in terms of salary and term.
Michalek produced 17 goals and 39 points for the Senators in 2013-14, while appearing in all 82 games.
It’s a far cry from the 35 goals and 60 points he had in 2011-12, but Michalek was coming off a radical knee procedure and did perform better after the club acquired Hemsky. One of the game’s honest, industrious players, Michalek had six goals in the month of March.