Report: Canucks working on deal to send Ilya Mikheyev, Sam Lafferty, 2nd to Chicago

The Vancouver Canucks are working on a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks involving Ilya Mikheyev, the UFA rights to Sam Lafferty, and a second-round pick, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday evening.

Mikheyev, 29, managed just 11 goals and 31 points in 78 games with the Canucks during the 2023-24 regular season. The 6’2″ right wing was held scoreless in 11 games with the Canucks in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Canucks have been rumoured to have interest in shedding Mikheyev’s contract ever since they fell to the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the postseason. The Omsk, Russia product has two years left on his deal, which carries a $4.75 million cap hit.

According to Vancouver hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal, Mikheyev — who also has a 12-team no-trade list in his contract — has not yet approved the potential deal with Chicago.

Daily Faceoff‘s Frank Seravalli confirmed on Wednesday evening that the trade, if completed, will see Mikheyev, Lafferty, and Vancouver’s 2025 second-round pick go to Chicago for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

 

Lafferty, 29, previously played for the Blackhawks from 2021 to 2023. The Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania-born forward spent the 2023-24 season with the Canucks after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of training camp.

It remains to be seen whether the Blackhawks will be able to agree to terms on a deal with Lafferty, who set career highs with 79 games played and 13 goals with the Canucks in the 2023-24 season. He was held without a point in 11 playoff games with the club.

The Canucks previously traded away their own picks in the first, second, and fifth rounds of this year’s draft as part of deals to acquire Elias Lindholm, Riley Stillman, and Lafferty, respectively. They do possess their second-round picks in 2025, which will head to Chicago if Mikheyev approves this trade.

An undrafted player, Mikheyev signed his first NHL contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019 after four successful seasons with the KHL club Avangard Omsk. Mikheyev topped out at 21 goals in 53 games with the Leafs in the 2021-22 season.

The Canucks already solidified part of their bottom-six forward group on Wednesday by signing centre Teddy Blueger to a two-year deal worth $1.8 million per season. Shedding Mikheyev’s salary could allow them to pursue a bigger fish in unrestricted free agency, such as Carolina Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel.

UPDATE 6:55 PM: Elliotte Friedman reports that Ilya Mikheyev has waived his NTC and is headed to the Blackhawks.

UPDATE 7:47 PM: Frank Seravalli reports that the Canucks are retaining 15% on Mikheyev’s contract.

Get ready for the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special, coming to you on July 1st, 2024 LIVE from 11am to 2pm Eastern Standard Time. Join Tyler Yaremchuk, Frank Seravalli and friends from all over the league 3 hours of non-stop action as they dive deep into the heart of the Free Agency. We will be breaking down every trade, discussing the impact on teams, predicting the future of the Free Agents, and giving you the inside scoop on all the wheeling and dealing happening around the league. Catch all the action live on July 1st from 11 AM to 2 PM EST for the The Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special you won’t want to miss!