Zbynek Michalek Is Going to be Dangerous For Phoenix

Zbynek Michalek, the shot-blocking specialist from Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL recently signed a $20 million five-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins which made him a free agent rearguard of the team. Pittsburgh Penguins brought him in on their team after losing their free agent defenseman Sergei Gonchar to the Ottawa Senators a few hours ago.Zbynek Michalek is no match compared to Gonchar’s talent but he is still an asset to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ defense.Zbynek Michalek is a 27-year-old guy who is currently one of the most popular defensemen out on the market. He had spent five years with Phoenix Coyotes where he developed into one of the best shot-blockers in the National Hockey League. In the past season, he finished at 15 in the NHL with 156 blocks within 72 games. Last year, he was number 1 with 272 blocks.



There's no use in listing all the teams that will contact Allan Walsh, the agent for Zbynek Michalek, should the Phoenix Coyotes defenseman become an unrestricted free agent at noon on Thursday. Fact is, there isn't a franchise in the NHL that wouldn't want Michalek on its blue line.Therein lies the trouble for prospective bidders, and the blessing for Michalek (and Walsh). The defenseman is polished, competitive, accomplished, durable, coachable and just entering his prime. In many free agency previews he has also been called "affordable." We wouldn't be so sure. Let's take a look.

Last week, the Penguins also re-signed forward Matt Cooke, one of the league's top agitators, to a $5.4 million, three-year contract.

Gonchar signed a three-year contract with Ottawa after the Penguins refused to budge from their offer of two seasons. Gonchar played for Pittsburgh for five seasons, and was second to Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom in points per game among defensemen during that time.

Michalek led the NHL in blocked shots with 271 in the 2008-09 season and has 27 goals and 88 assists in 415 career games. He also played for the Czech Republic in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He had a career-high 28 points with four goals and 24 assists in 2006-07 with Phoenix.

The deals left the Penguins with about only $2 million of salary cap space for the 2010-11 season - giving them little room to add a proven forward, seemingly a priority after they became overly reliant upon stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin last season.

With Martin and Michalek under contract, the Penguins have an average of $16.25 million committed to its top four defensemen - including Brooks Orpik and Kris Letang - over the next four seasons. Letang, who signed a $14 million, four-year contract late last season, could move into Gonchar's role as the primary point man on the power play.