Sens getting value from Michalek: 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. (Updated 12/02/2009).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 12/2/09).
Fantasy 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. (Updated 12/02/2009).
No information available at this time.
No information available at this time.
Sens getting value from Michalek: 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. (Updated 12/02/2009).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 12/2/09).
Fantasy 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. (Updated 12/02/2009).
Dany Heatley assisted on two goals in his first game against Ottawa since his blockbuster trade to San Jose, leading the Sharks to a 5-2 victory over the Senators on Tuesday night.
Who is emerging as a go-to option in Fantasy of late? How can you take full advantage of the upcoming schedule? Our Michael Hurcomb lays everything out for owners in his latest Fantasy Planner.
Niclas Bergfors, Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner scored goals, and Martin Brodeur made 24 saves to help the New Jersey Devils beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Chris Phillips scored twice in his 800th regular-season game and Pascal Leclaire made 25 saves, leading the Ottawa Senators to a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
