Offered by Nationwide Insurance coverage Agent Jeff Vukovich
LAS VEGAS — The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired ahead Ilya Mikheyev and ahead Sam Lafferty’s negotiating rights, together with a second-round choose in 2027 as a sweetener, from the Vancouver Canucks in change for a fourth-round choose in 2027, the group introduced late Wednesday evening.
It is a pure wage dump for the Canucks, who have been desperately seeking to create cap house forward of the NHL Draft and free company. The Canucks are retaining 15% of Mikheyev’s $4.75 million cap hit; there are two years left on his contract.
Mikheyev additionally has a 12-team no-trade checklist that may carry over to the Blackhawks. The framework between Chicago and Vancouver had been ironed out hours earlier however the deal was contingent on whether or not or not Mikheyev would approve, which he in the end did.
Mikheyev, 29, produced 11 targets and 20 assists for 31 factors in 78 video games this previous season for Vancouver. The yr prior, he had 13 targets and 28 factors in 46 video games earlier than present process season-ending ACL surgical procedure.
Mikheyev was on tempo for 50 factors — which might’ve shattered his earlier career-high of 32 — and was thought of to be one of many quickest skaters within the NHL. There is a increased ceiling he can attain if he finds his earlier skating type and performs his approach onto a line with Connor Bedard.
A well-known face can also be coming again to Chicago in Lafferty, who recorded 24 factors (13 targets, 11 assists) in 79 video games with Vancouver. His 13 targets have been a career-high, three of which have been game-winners.
Lafferty spent two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2021-23, racking up 15 targets and 17 assists for 32 factors in 97 video games over that stretch. He was a key a part of the group’s penalty kill and averaged a career-high 15:06 of ice time final season earlier than he was ultimately dealt to Toronto with Jake McCabe in a commerce bundle that included a first-round choose going to Chicago.
Lafferty is ready to turn into an unrestricted free agent on July 1, however it might be stunning if the participant and group did not agree on an extension earlier than then. It seems like each events need to make it work.
Total, Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson recouped the second-round choose — albeit in 2027 — that he despatched to the New York Islanders to maneuver up from No. 20 to No. 18 total and 4 spots within the second spherical of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Extra importantly, Davidson additionally added a pair of center/bottom-six forwards in Mikheyev and Lafferty to bolster their group up entrance that is led by 18-year-old franchise cornerstone Bedard, which was and stays a high precedence this offseason.
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