Ilya Mikheyev

2022.23

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have announced that right-winger Ilya Mikheyev is set to undergo season-ending knee surgery.

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin says the 28-year-old forward suffered a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the team’s first pre-season game back on Sept. 25.

Mikheyev will undergo the surgery next week and is expected to be ready for training camp in the fall.

He was originally listed as week-to-week with the injury and played 45 regular-season games, amassing 13 goals and 15 assists.

Mikheyev scored in his final appearance of the campaign Friday, a 5-2 Canucks victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The native of Omsk, Russia, signed a four-year, US$19-million contract with Vancouver as a free agent last summer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2023.

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.