Ilya Mikheyev reportedly asked for a trade from the Maple Leafs
It looks like Ilya Mikheyev is seeking a change of scenery.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the winger approached the Toronto Maple Leafs with a trade request this off-season. Though neither the team nor the player’s agent were willing to comment, it seems the issue was Mikheyev’s ice-time in 2021…
“According to several sources, Toronto winger Ilya Mikheyev asked for a trade following the 2020-21 season. But, what is important to the story is that the Maple Leafs made it clear they do not want to accommodate this request. With Zach Hyman and Joe Thornton gone from the left wing, the organization told Mikheyev it considers him a key part of their team and are counting on him to have a big year.”
Mikheyev signed with the Maple Leafs as an undrafted free agent out of the KHL in 2019 and had a good rookie season, scoring eight goals and 23 points over 32 games. His campaign was ultimately cut short due to a freak injury in which his wrist was cut by a skate blade.
In 2021, Mikheyev was a bit of a disappointment for Toronto, as he scored just seven goals and 17 points over 54 games. He played 14:13 per night on average, which ranked eighth among forwards on the team. Mikheyev didn’t score a single point in Toronto’s seven-game series loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.
The Leafs didn’t honour his request for a trade and it appears Mikheyev will be back with the team in 2021-22. Toronto lost @Zach Hyman and @Joe Thornton in free agency, so there’ll be an opportunity for him to move up the team’s depth chart.