Submitted by National Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
LAS VEGAS – The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired forward Ilya Mikheyev and forward Sam Lafferty, along with a second-round pick in 2027 as a draft pick, from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2027, the team announced late. Wednesday night.
It’s just a payroll dump for the Canucks, who were desperate to create cap space ahead of the NHL Draft and free agency. The Canucks are holding onto 15% of Mikheyev’s $4.75 million cap hit. He has two years remaining on his contract.
Mikheyev also has a 12-team restricted list that will be moved to the Blackhawks. The framework between Chicago and Vancouver had been settled hours earlier, but the deal was contingent on Mikheyev agreeing or not, which he eventually did.
Mikheyev, 29, had 11 goals, 20 assists and 31 points in 78 games for Vancouver this past season. The year before, he had 13 goals and 28 points in 46 games before undergoing season-ending ACL surgery.
Mikhaev was on pace for 50 points — which would have shattered his previous career high of 32 points — and was considered one of the fastest skaters in the NHL. There is a higher ceiling he can reach if he finds his previous skating form and works his way onto a line with Connor Bedard.
A familiar face also returns to Chicago in Lafferty, who scored 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 79 games with Vancouver. His 13 goals were a career-high, three of which were game-winners.
Lafferty spent two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2021-23, scoring 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 97 games during that span. He was a key part of the team’s penalty kill and averaged a career-high 15:06 of ice time last season before eventually being traded to Toronto along with Jake McCabe in a trade package that included a first-round pick to go to Chicago.
Lafferty is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but it would be surprising if the player and team don’t agree to an extension before then. It seems like both parties want to make it work.
Overall, Blackhawks manager Kyle Davidson got back the second-round pick — albeit in 2027 — that he sent to the New York Islanders to move up from 20th overall to 18th overall and four spots in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
More importantly, Davidson also added a pair of middle/bottom six forwards in Mikheyev and Lafferty to bolster their group up front led by 18-year-old Bedard, who has been and continues to be a top priority this season.
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