The Arizona Republic recalls that when defenseman Zbynek Michalek left the Coyotes via free agency in the summer of 2010, part of the allure of a move to join the Pittsburgh Penguins was the security it offered.
Michalek, an alternate captain during a five-year stint with the Coyotes, was a fan favorite and made it well-known that he enjoyed living and playing in the desert.
But when his contract expired, only a year after the team was thrust into bankruptcy, the uncertainty and viability of the Coyotes was at its peak, and Michalek felt the need to find a stable footing in the NHL elsewhere.
Yet while he continued his steady pattern of play in Pittsburgh, the Coyotes remained in Arizona -- bucking the adversity that still is being heaped upon them.
So when a trade executed at the NHL draft on Friday paved the way for his return, Michalek was just as eager as the Coyotes to reunite.
"That team's really close to my heart; so is the city, and I know they have great fans," Michalek said. "I'm really happy to be back, and hopefully I can continue playing the way I was when I was there."
With three seasons left on his contract at $4 million per year, Michalek wants to be a factor in the Coyotes' future. The team's recent run to the Western Conference finals reaffirmed that.
"Nobody expected anything out of them again, and they proved everybody wrong," said Michalek, who is in the midst of rehabbing his hip after a procedure in May but is expected to be ready for training camp.
"They've had that mentality for the last three, four years, and (General Manager Don Maloney) and (coach Dave Tippett) they've done such a good job putting a competitive team on the ice and playing good defensive hockey, good structured hockey, and it's the mentality that I like, too." Deciding on the defense
It's too early to solidify lineup spots, but Maloney already envisions Michalek playing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. That would leave Keith Yandle and Derek Morris as another pairing and an opening alongside Rusty Klesla.
The Coyotes still have to decide whether or not to re-sign Michal Rozsival and Adrian Aucoin before they become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
They also have a collection of players in David Schlemko, Michael Stone, Chris Summers and Brandon Gormley competing for a spot.
"This makes us deeper and stronger," Maloney said. "We still have a lot of young players that are knocking on the door. So no we're not done. We've got more work to do."
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