When the 2015 NHL trade deadline passed, a number of solid defenders changed hands. Among them were a few notable names, including Jeff Petry, Keith Yandle and James Wisniewski. One name of a solid defender that slipped through the cracks? Zbynek Michalek of the Arizona Coyotes.
Michalek, who had been a very good shut-down defender for years in the desert, was sent to St. Louis as a rental for the Blues’ playoff run. Michalek suffered a concussion right before the trade, and never got going with the Blues. He was, for the lack of a better term, the forgotten one.
Why Is He Out There:
When you look at all the numbers, Michalek is actually a very solid NHL defender. So, why are we talking about him shaking free? Simple, he’s a pending free agent, and the numbers game in St. Louis suggests he goes. Not only that, but Michalek barely even touched the ice with the Blues due to his injury.
He never really got going, and as a result never made a big impact. Essentially, the Blues aren’t losing anything because Michalek never really got fully going anyways. With all the decisions to be made in Missouri, it’s more than likely that Michalek slides away into free agency in July.
What Does He Do Well:
Zbynek Michalek isn’t going to reproduce Bobby Orr’s offensive numbers, but he’s going to help keep the puck out of the net on a nightly basis. This is your classic shut-down defender. He’s physical, he blocks shots, he protects the front of the net.
Michalek stands in at 6’2” and 210 pounds, while providing a physical style. He doesn’t shy away from contact, and is willing to stand-up and protect the blue-line. He blocks a ton of shots yearly too, and is willing to get in the lanes.
After watching some highlights, he reminds me of Steve Staios in the mid-2000’s with how he is just willing to give the body up in terms of shot-blocking.
Defensively, Michalek is a very strong player. He has a high-IQ and knows how to break up the opponent’s cycle when in his own zone. He reads the rush really well, and is rarely caught out of position. You’ll never see him chasing, rarely see him pinch at the wrong time, and never see him guessing what comes next. He’s steady back there.
An added bonus to this shut-down defender? Michalek has a bomb of a shot and a decent first pass. It’s not Karlsson like, but he’s able to move the puck out of the zone without it looking like he’s tossing a grenade. As for his shot, it’s a heavy one that allows him to run the point on the second unit of a power-play.
Michalek isn’t a top-pairing option by my eye, but he did average 20:45 of ice time this past season in 68 games, putting him in the range of a solid second pairing option.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play:
Zbynek Michalek would likely be Edmonton’s second best option on the blue-line behind Oscar Klefbom. That would put him on the top-pairing, but I think we have established that this is putting him in over his head. He’s good, but he’s not a number one or a number two in this league.
Michalek belongs on the second pairing of a hockey club. The ideal spot in Edmonton? Probably on a shut-down pairing with Mark Fayne that handles tough-zone starts and tough opposition. Second pairing anyone?
What Will He Cost:
Like the last few options we have looked at, Michalek will cost nothing but a contract spot and money. Due to his injury and quiet end to the season, Edmonton may be able to get him for cheaper than expected. Michalek isn’t gathering much interest among bloggers and fans for some reason, but he could represent value.
A two year pact somewhere in the range of around $3.5-$4 million a year seems like fair value to my eye.
Closing Arguments:
He isn’t a top-pairing defender, but Zbynek Michalek is a solid NHL player. This is a proven top-four option that represents a clear improvement over guys like Andrew Ference, Nikita Nikitin and Justin Schultz. This is a solid, shut-down defender that can anchor the second pairing and play with a solid puck-mover if need be.
We know in his early days in San Jose that Todd McLellan paired a shut-down option with a puck-mover often. Michalek could be the perfect fit, and these two worked together in the AHL in the early 2000’s.
Michalek can’t be the only add for Edmonton, they’ll need another top-four option, but he’d be a solid start. Edmonton needs a lot of help on the blue-line, and if they play their cards right, Michalek could be part of that solution.
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