[ad_1]
Breadcrumb Trail Links
The veteran winger struggled in 2023-24 and the Canucks obviously would like to use his cap space on someone else, sources confirm
Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox
Published Jun 13, 2024 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 4 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Penguins winger Jake Guentzel checks Canucks winger Ilya Mikheyev during Jan. 11 meeting in Pittsburgh. Photo by Gene J. Puskar /AP
Article content
The Vancouver Canucks have a good amount of salary cap space to fill this summer, but with a few high-profile contract negotiations in front of them, they apparently want to find even more.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
One way they could open up a little more space would be to trade underperforming winger Ilya Mikheyev.
As first reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Postmedia can confirm from several league sources that the Canucks have spoken with teams around the NHL about Mikheyev, who still has two years remaining on his contract, averaging $4.75 million per season.
“They’d love to get out of him. It was a terrible signing,” a league source said.
Mikheyev signed a four-year deal with Vancouver in the summer of 2022. At the time, some observers raised their eyebrows about Mikheyev’s wage, but he was an intriguing talent, a speedy winger, adept at killing penalties and with some scoring ability, although he was considered a bit of a one-trick pony around the net.
Canucks Report
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
He’d struggled with injuries over the previous seasons in Toronto, including a serious wrist injury midway through the 2019-20 campaign, which was his first season in the NHL after four in the KHL. He needed surgery to repair severed tendons and arteries in his right wrist, putting him on the shelf for three months (which would prove to be the rest of the season when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019-20 regular season early).
Before the injury, he’d been somewhat productive, scoring eight goals in 39 games.
His first season back, though, was a struggle. He suited up for 51 games, but scored just 7 times. You couldn’t help but wonder if the wrist injury meant he’d never be able to finish like he had before.
And then to start what would be his final season in Toronto, he suffered a broken wrist late in the pre-season. He didn’t play again until December, but once he found his groove again, he looked to have found his scoring touch: he erupted for 21 goals in 53 games, which drew Vancouver’s attention.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
He suffered an ACL tear in his left knee in his final pre-season game in 2022, but played through it for half the season. His skating wasn’t anywhere near as explosive as it had been in Toronto, but he still showed some scoring touch, scoring 13 goals in 46 games. That’s a 20-goal pace, which is exactly what the Canucks hoped they’d get from him.
With the playoffs a dream, he was shut down in late January and had surgery to repair his knee in early February.
Arizona Coyotes right wing Josh Doan (91) shoves Vancouver Canucks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (65) and center Teddy Blueger (53) off the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. Photo by Ross D. Franklin Ross D. Frank /AP
His long road back to full recovery meant he missed training camp for the 2023-24 season and the first four games of the season.
It took him time to rediscover confidence in his knee, but in the early going he was at least a productive scorer. He hit the back of the net 10 times before Christmas, almost always skating with Elias Pettersson.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
But then he hit the wall. After scoring his 10th goal of the season Dec. 17 vs. Chicago, he scored just one more time in a 61-game stretch over the regular season and through the playoffs.
And it wasn’t for lack of trying. He kept going to good spots and the puck kept landing on his stick — he took 147 shots this season, tying his career-best — but he couldn’t bury the biscuit. Some of his speed finally returned too, so he was at least an effective defensive player, but he was paid to be more than that.
If the Canucks are going to succeed in trading Mikheyev, you have to think they’d have to give up at least a draft pick to do it. He’s still an NHL player, even if his salary doesn’t match his production. There are teams who are not thinking about contending next season — the Canucks want to be a contender next season — and Mikheyev would be a good fit for a team that’s looking for NHL competence.
Advertisement 6
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
But no team is likely to help the Canucks out of this one for free. Moving off Mikheyev would mean the Canucks could use his cap hit to help sign a high-priced free agent, and that kind of benefit will cost them.
pjohnston@postmedia.com
Recommended from Editorial
-
Could the Canucks trade Filip Hronek? Sure
-
Stanley Cup Final: No suspension for Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, so why was Canucks’ Carson Soucy suspended?
-
Why CapFriendly was good for labour — but not for the NHL
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
Article content
Share this article in your social network
[ad_2]
Source link
Fitnessnacks – #Canucks #hoping #trade #Ilya #Mikheyev
Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-trade-ilya-mikheyev-sources