In early February, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators were talking about a trade, and it was a big one. Milan Michalek was going to be part of a nine-player deal if he waived his no-trade clause to leave Ottawa.

He did.

“Looking back now it probably was the wrong decision,” he said, “but I’m only looking forward right now.”

He was speaking on a game day, but not an NHL game day. The 31-year-old winger was inside Ricoh Coliseum, the old livestock palace, getting ready to face the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as a member of Toronto’s American Hockey League affiliate.

When the trade proposal was presented to him in Ottawa, Michalek said he needed a day to discuss it with his wife, Karen. And after speaking with Leafs coach Mike Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello, he figured it would be better to leave than to stay where he may not be wanted.

All the pieces were in place for the deal, which included Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf being sent down the road. Michalek’s no-trade clause allowed him to put 10 teams on a list where his consent would be required in order to be traded. Toronto was on that list.

“At the time it was a popular decision, and I made it,” he said on Tuesday. “But, maybe I wouldn’t be with Ottawa (now) or maybe I would? I couldn’t control what happened since then, but I’m here now, and I’m focused on that.”

By all accounts, Michalek had a good summer. He represented the Czech Republic at the World Cup of Hockey. Although his team didn’t advance beyond the preliminary round, he led his team in goals (two) and points (three).

Michalek made the opening-night roster in Toronto, and he appeared five games. He scored one goal and added one assist, playing on a line with Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov.

On Oct. 24, things changed.

Toronto, in need of a better faceoff man, picked Ben Smith off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche and placed Michalek on the wire. Twenty-four hours later, unclaimed by another NHL team, Michalek was sent to the Marlies.

Since then, there has been no communication between management and Michalek about plans to move him. The quiet Czech forward said he is intent on trying to make the best of the situation.

“I don’t want to be the guy that’s going to be pissed and bringing the guys down; I don’t want to be that guy,” Michalek said. “I’m making the best out of what I can do here and help the young guys if I can. I’m also lucky that the minors are in the same town, so I don’t have to move my family, so thankfully that wasn’t an issue.”

Michalek, who carries a $4 million salary cap hit, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. But without getting regular looks in the NHL, getting another contract at the top level will be difficult.

Dealing with veterans who didn’t expect to be with the Marlies before the season is a new challenge for second-year coach Sheldon Keefe. Last season, the team was full of exciting prospects, and veterans who knew their situations ahead of time.

“I told him we wanted to make the best of the situation for him, but also make him aware that this is a development program and there will be times where the younger people will get the opportunities over him,” Keefe said. “He’s been really good about understanding that.”

For now, Michalek will continue to work and spend a lot of time with his family. His oldest son, Maxim, is three and just started skating last week, and his wife gave birth to his second son, Leo, last month.

“It’s not ideal at all being somewhere where nobody can see me (on a regular basis),” he said. “It’s going to be tough, but there’s nothing I can do.”