2022 nhl free agency – Page 3

by Canucks Communications @Canucks / Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Dakota Joshua on a two-year contract.

“We are so pleased to be able to sign a player with this type of upside,” said Allvin. “Dakota is a big body, has a heavy game, plays hard, and is a good skater. Ryan Johnson and Trent Cull were very impressed with his skillset when he played six games for the Utica Comets the year we shared our farm team with St Louis. Adding him to our roster will definitely make us a tougher team to play against.”

Joshua, 26, appeared in 30 regular season games with the St. Louis Blues last season, notching eight points (3-5-8) and 16 penalty minutes. He also made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut with the Blues, appearing in game three of their first round series vs Minnesota.

The 6’3″, 206-pound centreman has played in 42 career regular season NHL games since 2020.21, all with St. Louis, recording nine points (4-5-9) and 23 penalty minutes. Joshua has also spent parts of three seasons in the AHL, registering 41 points (17-24-41) in 91 regular season games split between the Springfield Thunderbirds, Utica Comets, and San Antonio Rampage.

A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Joshua was initially selected in the fifth round, 128th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

by Canucks Communications @Canucks / Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Ilya Mikheyev on a four-year contract.

“Ilya will provide a lot of value in our middle six,” said Allvin. “His versatility and ability to do so many different things will be a huge boost to our group. Solid at both ends of the ice, Ilya’s speed is a real difference maker. Not only does he kill penalties, but he also can create offensively as well.”

Mikheyev, 27, registered 32 points (21-11-32) and 26 penalty minutes in 53 games played with Toronto last season, setting career highs in goals (21), points (32), and plus/minus (+16). Of his 32 points, five were tallied on the power play (4-1-5) and four were recorded shorthanded (4-0-4). He also appeared in all seven of Toronto’s first-round playoff games, recording two goals and two assists.

In 146 career NHL games, all with Toronto, Mikheyev has accumulated 72 points (36-36-72) and 36 penalty minutes. He has also played in 19 playoff games with the Maple Leafs during the past three seasons, tallying four points (2-2-4).

A native of Omsk, Russia, Mikheyev previously played four seasons with Omsk Avangard in the KHL before arriving in the NHL, recording 120 points (62-58-120) and 46 penalty minutes in 224 regular season games. In an additional 44 KHL playoff games, Mikheyev collected 19 points (6-13-19).

The 6’2″, 192-pound right winger was initially signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent on May 6, 2019.