Michalek, 33, was placed on waivers earlier this month, going unclaimed. The team then had a 30-day window to send him to the minors before he would require waivers again. The Coyotes ultimately opted to assign him to their AHL club, the Tucson Roadrunners.
Michalek signed with Arizona as a free agent in 2015 and appeared in 70 games with the Coyotes last season, scoring seven points. He previously played with the Coyotes from 2005-10, and again from 2012-15 prior to a trade that sent him to the St. Louis Blues.
The Czech defender has one year remaining on his contract, carrying a $3.2-million cap hit.
Some members of the Chicago Blackhawks may have a career in the performing arts once their days on the ice are behind them.
Attending Game 2 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the hometown Chicago Cubs, the three Blackhawks stars - Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and captain Jonathan Toews - broke out in song as part of the seventh-inning stretch ritual.
Unfortunately for Chicagoans, the Hawks' rendition of the classic baseball song didn't prove to be enough of a good luck charm, as the Cubs fell 1-0. The series is now tied at a game apiece and resumes Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The Cubs hope to capture their first World Series win since 1908 and snap a historic 107-year drought. The Blackhawks can somewhat relate, as the team's Stanley Cup win in 2010 ended a 49-year winless streak. Keith, Seabrook, and Toews were all part of that championship team.
Chalk up another accolade for Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. The superstar center was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday, after scoring six points in three games to open the season. McDavid notched two goals, including the game-winner, in the team's season opener against the rival Calgary Flames.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, was named the league's second star of the week. The 19-year-old had a record-breaking debut, scoring four goals in his first NHL game. Matthews notched the fourth tally with three seconds remaining in just the second period.
Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo has been named the NHL's third star of the week. The 37-year-old grabbed a pair of wins to start the season, posting a .957 save percentage through two games. His second win marked the 438th victory of his career, pushing him past Jacques Plante for sixth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.
Whether it be a combination of luck, sucking up to authority, or even skill, some players just have a knack of getting calls to go their way.
With goals and power plays becoming such a valuable commodity in the current NHL, players must do what they can to give themselves and their teams an edge.
Here are three players who have managed to get the benefit of the doubt more often than not:
Sidney Crosby
While Sidney Crosby holds the title as the most skilled player in the world, many are also well aware that he's not above complaining to get his way.
Sure, it's not uncommon to see Crosby pleading for calls from the referees, but that's a byproduct of his competitive nature and never-ending desire to give his team any advantage he can.
When you also hold the title as the most skilled player in the game, you tend to get a pass - just ask Kerry Fraser and members of the 1993 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Mike Smith might not be the superstar that's given the benefit of the doubt like Crosby, but you could definitely say he's guilty of on-ice fraud.
Smith has had his fair share of calls go his way, and on multiple occasions has even had the luxury of goals being called off - seemingly for no reason - after being run into by opposing players.
However, a few YouTube searches will show that Smith has a suspiciously high amount of collisions occur when he leaves his net to play the puck, with more than one resulting in him doing a complete 360 upon contact.
Let's just say it certainly raises skepticism.
Henrik Lundqvist
It must be a goalie thing.
If anyone is to be given special treatment, one would assume it would be a King, no?
While Lundqivst is undoubtedly among the best puck-stoppers in the game, over the years he's developed another skill: acting.
Life as a goalie in the NHL is anything but easy, and run-ins and collisions are sure to happen, but they seem to happen much more frequently to Lundqvist. However - much like Smith - closer looks show that, at times, what appears to be goalie interference is nothing more than Henrik's Oscar-worthy acting skills.
As the team plays its home opener Monday, it marks the beginning of the final chapter at the iconic Joe Louis Arena - home to the Red Wings since 1979.
The team is set to move into its new home next season, the Little Caesars Arena, but will first bask in the final year at The Joe, the old barn that oversaw the Red Wings become the NHL's model of success.
Under the tutelage of general manager Ken Holland, at the helm since 1997, the Red Wings have established a winning culture, as evidenced by the club's 25 straight postseason berths, including four Stanley Cup wins over that time.
The Joe has also been the only home to team owner Mike Ilitch, who bought the Red Wings in 1982. Under his watch, the Red Wings have missed the postseason on just three occasions.
“It just had a special feeling, that the crowd was going to help you as much as they could,” Scotty Bowman told Gregg Krupa of The Detroit News.
Bowman, of course, is the legendary bench boss who coached the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships.
The first Cup, in 1997, ended a 42-year drought for the Red Wings. The next, in 1998, stands as the NHL's most recent back-to-back championship. He won his third with the Red Wings in 2002, and captured a fourth in 2008 as part of Detroit's front office.
In addition to Stanley Cups, Red Wings fans have witnessed many a star grace The Joe over the years, from former captain Steve Yzerman to elite blue-liner Niklas Lidstrom, as well as star forwards Sergei Fedorov and the recently departed Pavel Datsyuk.
On Monday, the Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators in what will be their final home opener at The Joe. No doubt the franchise that defined excellence will look to begin its "Farewell Season" on the right note.
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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Monday, October 17:
Line Stacks
LW Gabriel Landeskog (25K), C Nathan MacKinnon (50K), D Tyson Barrie (38K), Avalanche (at Penguins): It's a little too early to tell, but the Avalanche's top line looked sharp despite it being Joe Colborne with the bulk of the offense. Expect more MacKinnon and Landeskog Monday as they make life difficult for Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury.
C Mark Scheifele (75K), RW Patrik Laine (28K), D Dustin Byfuglien (27K), Jets (vs. Bruins): Scheifele is more expensive than he likely should be, but his salary is mitigated by the relative bargains of his teammates. Scheifele likely isn't a point-per-game player, but Laine could be close to one already. With potentially still wounded G Tuukka Rask in net for Boston, the Jets are a solid choice.
LW Mike Hoffman (25K), C Kyle Turris (51K), RW Mark Stone (25K), Senators (at Red Wings): With two goals in two games, Turris is scoring above his usual pace. Expect the assists to take precedent as early as Monday with Hoffman and Stone benefiting. The Red Wings have allowed 10 goals in two game, though the return home is in Detroit's favor.
Bargain Plays
C David Krejci (25K), Bruins (at Jets): Krejci has opened the season relatively quietly with a lone assist to his name through two games. Krejci has been one of Boston's steadiest producers for years, quietly bordering on point-per-game status since 2008-09. When the Bruins score, there's a great chance he's feeding the puck to the scorer.
LW Gabriel Landeskog (25K), Avalanche (at Penguins): Landeskog is too cheap to ignore, even if you elect to forego the Avalanche stack mentioned above. He can score and he can feed the puck, though he's always prone to point-less outings. He's one of the Avalanche's top power-play options and is worth the measly investment required.
RW Gustav Nyquist (25K), Red Wings (vs. Senators): The Senators, and G Craig Anderson, have not done an expert job of keeping the puck out of the net through two games. Nyquist has been featured on the power play early on and has been playing alongside a rejuvenated Thomas Vanek. Take a tournament flier on Nyquist.
Top Fades
C Darren Helm (50K), Red Wings (vs. Senators): Consider this a fade based on alternate options. Helm's linemate Nyquist will cost half as much and is the more likely candidate to put points on the board. Go cheap if you go with Detroit.
LW Chris Kreider (74K), Rangers (vs. Sharks): Kreider's salary, even in a home game against a team traveling coast-to-coast, is far too high relative to the other options. Kreider's four points over his first two games are the definition of small sample size and he could be a massive fantasy disappointment against San Jose.
Contrarian Options
C Logan Couture (44K), Sharks (at Rangers): At his mid-range salary, Couture could get passed over because of the road matchup against a quality defensive team in the Rangers. Don't fret. Couture is centering an under-the-radar trio with RW Joonas Donskoi and LW Mikkel Boedker, cementing the Sharks' scoring depth.
RW Nikolaj Ehlers (39K), Jets (vs. Bruins): Ehlers has skated close to 20 minutes in both games so far and should continue to see a bunch of time with the Jets' second line and first PP unit. The second-year forward is a potential breakout candidate, and he may get lost in the shuffle early on with his salary firmly in the middle.
G Tuukka Rask (75K), Bruins (at Jets): Rask is dealing with an undisclosed injury and cracks in the facade of his game showed fairly regularly a year ago. Still, his .915 save percentage in 2015-16 is pretty stellar for a career-worst. He set the bar pretty high. With all goalies priced the same, if he nets you a win he won't be heavily rostered.
"It was phoned in to our trainer - he had to go out," said Oilers coach Todd McLellan.
Gustavsson had been sprawled out when Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson fell backward, landing on the netminder's head and back.
The Oilers bench was soon informed that Gustavsson needed to leave the game to undergo the NHL's concussion protocol.
The move returned Cam Talbot to the Edmonton crease, who had been pulled after allowing four goals midway through the game. He allowed two more in the third period as the Oilers went on to a 6-2 loss.
