Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable
Report: Former Maple Leafs Forward Ilya Mikheyev Has Permission to Facilitate a Trade Away From Canucks
Vancouver is looking to create cap space and moving the speedy winger may be the way to do it.
It looks like Ilya Mikheyev could be on the move again.
According to CHEK's Rick Dhaliwal, Mikheyev's agent, Dan Milstein, has permission to facilitate a trade away from the Vancouver Canucks.
Mikheyev had 11 goals and 20 assists in 78 games with Vancouver last season. But he was held off the scoresheet in the 11 playoff games he took part in during the postseason.
The 29-year-old has two seasons remaining with a salary cap hit of $4.75 million. He earned his existing contract after a successful NHL beginning with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he dazzled with his speed.
One example of it, in particular, came during the 2021 season when Mikheyev beat Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid in a foot race for a loose puck.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbXLJMIrPuc[/embed]
Mikheyev's cap hit might be a lot to absorb for other teams without some sort of salary retention. But a team betting on a bounce-back in Mikheyev could benefit from acquiring him at a discount.
The Maple Leafs signed the Russian winger to a one-year, entry-level contract in 2019 after beginning his hockey career in the KHL. He fit in well in Toronto, scoring eight goals and 15 assists in 39 games. When he's been healthy, Mikhevey has been a valuable asset, but he's been beset with various injuries during his NHL tenure.
His regular season ended in 2019 after a freak wrist injury, but he was able to return for the 2020 playoffs in the COVID bubble.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwVhRgH979Y[/embed]
At the beginning of the 2021-22 season, Mikheyev missed the first two months of the season with a broken thumb.
When he did play, Mikheyev scored 21 goals in 53 games, which helped him earn a four-year, $19 million deal he signed with the Canucks in 2022.
Mikheyev dealt with a knee injury for much of his first season with the Canucks. He was limited to 13 goals and 15 assists in 46 games.
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