A few days ago, we covered reports stating that the Toronto Maple Leafs had made it clear to teams across the league that they would be open to trading the early negotiating rights to Ilya Mikheyev to any interested teams. Now, we have some more clarity on what those interested teams might look like. According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, there look to be many. Johnston reports that “as many as half the teams” in the NHL are expected to hold at least some interest in acquiring Mikheyev this summer, and adds that Mikheyev is looking for a deal “in the $4MM range,” if not higher.
Such a vast level of interest in Mikheyev is not a complete surprise. The speedy, undrafted Russian winger scored 21 goals and 32 points in 53 games this season, bouncing back from an off 2020-21 where he only had seven goals and 17 points in 54 games. While not the largest reason for each team’s success, both the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning feature premium middle-of-the-lineup players, and it’s likely that the teams interested in him consider him a “premium” middle-sixer. The NHL is a “copycat” league, so it’s very possible that the playoff success of relatively comparable players such as Artturi Lehkonen or Nick Paul has grown Mikheyev’s market. The more teams that enter a bidding war for his services, the more likely Mikheyev is to earn the type of contract the desires. So if anything, Johnston’s reporting is great news for Mikheyev and his camp, and could also be an early sign of the type of players that will be in high demand on July 13th.
Now, for some other notes regarding Eastern Conference teams:
- The New York Rangers could lose both Andrew Copp and Ryan Strome this summer, two top-six players who were important pieces of the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Final. Those losses will likely leave a hole at the Rangers’ second-line center slot, and the Rangers will need to find a replacement this summer. One way the team can find a replacement is in the trade market, and according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple, that’s something they’re considering. (subscription link) Per Staple, two league sources noted that center Filip Chytil, the hero of the team’s second-round victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, is the “most talked-about” Ranger in GM Chris Drury’s trade conversations, and that “the Rangers are willing to lose Chytil in order to acquire an older, more established top-six center.” Chytil, a 2017 first-round pick, is a veteran of over 250 NHL games despite being just 22 years old. He had 22 points in 67 games this season and his strong playoff performance could motivate the Rangers to “sell high” on him if they don’t view him as part of their long-term plans.
- One player who could potentially fill the Rangers’ second-line center need is Calgary Flames pivot Sean Monahan. Per Staple, Monahan “has been discussed in trade talks” with the Rangers. Monahan, 27, has seen his career derailed due to injuries as of late, and was placed on long-term injured reserve following hip surgery. If the Rangers believe in Monahan’s ability to re-discover the form that saw him score between 20 and 30 goals for seven straight seasons, then the Rangers could acquire him at an asset cost that would likely be far lower than the cost it would take to acquire a more in-demand center.
Not a close observer of NYR but I am surprised they’d be willing to part with Chytil. Liked the cut of his jib.
Exactly! But if they want a more established Center, than pony up Hero Chytil, Kaako and 2023 2nd for JT Miller!
Chytil had a good playoff, but hockey history is littered with the Chris Kontoses and John Druces of the world — guys who had a magnificent playoff one year and never did a whole lot else.
And it’s not as if Chytil HAD a playoff like Kontos or Druce. He had a three game stretch where he scored five goals. Without that, his playoff line would’ve been 17 games, 2 goals, 2 assists: not exactly Conn Smythe country. Since beyond that, his resume’s nothing more than respectable bottom-six. His trade value will likely never be higher, the Rangers are in a fearsome cap crunch, and someone will overpay for him.
Fill center on the second line, but open holes on the third line center spot and trade your only top nine right wing? Miller had one year left and the Rangers would be in the same spot as they are now. Not sure of moving two for one is the right move right now, but Miller would absolutely be the right piece.
Trade Mrazek, Kerfoot, and Mikheyev’s rights to NJ for Zacha. Maybe Petr can resurrect his career there or be bought out. Mickey and Kerfoot are very good middle sixers.
So your going to get NJ to take Mrazak and his awful contract – and your getting Zacha back! Nice try leaf fan.
Zacha is better then Kerfoot, Mikheyev is UFA and his rights are worth maybe a 5-6th pick.
So you can dream but you’d have to throw in your 1st to any team to take an often injured back up goalie on a very bad 2 yr deal.
You see it’s very hard to hide the goalie on the 4th line for 5-6 min a night.
No one is going to chance Monahan to 2nd line C without seeing him play again! Especially NYR!
There’s zero chance. Not at this point in the teams success. No time to see if the guy can take a hit, nonetheless throw a hip check.
Malkin for 1-2yrs 6-7M + trade Nemeth.
Question: exactly when did you figure that Malkin’s agent suffered brain damage? PITTSBURGH would give Malkin better than that. (Hell, *I* would, and I’m not precisely high on him. I’d offer two years and a relatively low salary, but jam packed with performance bonuses. On a game-to-game basis, Geno’s still elite.)
On the open market, someone’s going to offer him $8-9 x 4. After spending his career in Pittsburgh, he’s not going to jump for pocket change and year-to-year.
If Malkin played a full season, sure. But his injury history of late and advanced age isn’t going to net him those dollars…or years.