Goaltender Steve Michalek made his professional debut last season. He played at two minor league levels and was very good in them. He even dressed as the Minnesota Wild’s backup multiple times. What does the future hold for the netminder?
Steve Michalek had a breakout season as a first year pro in 2015-16. He began in the ECHL and climbed up to the No. 1 netminder in Iowa, including a couple stints as the backup in the NHL due to a couple injuries.
The Hartford, Conn. native was considered a mediocre prospect and likely career minor leaguer before his senior season at Harvard University. He elevated his game and led the Crimson to an ECAC championship and NCAA tournament berth.
Without a professional contract in hand, Michalek and two other players applied for an extra year of eligibility due to a lost season. He left the team to play for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL during a year-long academic suspension following a cheating scandal that involved 125 students and a take-home final exam. The NCAA denied the waiver and he signed with the Wild just over two weeks later.
The scandal did not immediately come out and the school released a statement saying the players left for “personal reasons.” However, during the season, a teammate revealed the reason for his and the three other players’ absence. Michalek was not bitter, but felt more relieved.
“I know there was a lot of speculation when I left,” he said to the Cedar Rapids Gazette in December of 2013. “I wasn’t playing this year. But I didn’t really want to have the reputation of leaving my team. It’s fine now. I’d almost rather have it this way. It kind of looks bad, but I didn’t want to be known as a quitter. I also didn’t want it to look like I messed up and everything.”
Related Story: Top 25 Minnesota Wild players 25-years-old or younger; No. 25 Louis Belpedio
More from Prospects
- Minnesota Wild prospects all over World Junior Championship rosters
- Three Prospects Who Should Play In Minnesota Next Season
- Timing seems right for Wild to bring in Jesper Wallstedt Next Season
- Minnesota Wild: With Joel Eriksson Ek out, is Marco Rossi’s debut coming?
- Where Will Marco Rossi Line Up This Season?
After his outstanding season, Hockeysfuture.com elavated him to the top goaltender prospect in the Minnesota Wild organization. They say he uses “his size well and being very economical in his movements while coming up with big stops when necessary.” They think very highly of his future in the NHL. They list his future rated as somewhere between a long-term starter and journeyman starter.
Edric Joseph of Dobber Prospects sees the talent in Michalek, but also appears hesitant to say he is an NHL starter. They bring up conditioning and being able to handle an entire professional season.
Next: Minnesota Wild: Should Suter's Minutes be Reduced?
After seeing him in person, albeit only during warmups last season, there are concerns about the way he plays. He came way out to challenge shots, but did not stay tall when doing so. He drop to knees and seem to shrink, exposing the majority of the upper portion of the net. He needs to learn to remain tall and use his 6-foot-3-inch frame better before he will be