NHL Insider reveals the ask from pending UFA Ilya Mikheyev; it's a LOFTY ask

After being signed in 2019, Mikheyev showed promise as a potential top six winger, producing 23 points (8 goals & 15 assists) in his first 39 National Hockey League games. Then, he suffered a terrifying injury that derailed a very promising season. An inadvertent skate blade cut the Russian winger's wrist causing a deep laceration which required immediate surgery, forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season.

After struggling to find his game in the following season, and a subsequent trade request that was ultimately denied, the 27-year-old was able to establish himself this season as a middle six winger due to his elite penalty killing abilities and blazing speed. After a thumb injury in training camp that sided lined him until mid-December, Mikheyev produced a career high 21 goals and 32 points in only 53 games this year. That point output projects for 32 goals and 50 points in a full 82 game season.

The end result projects Mikheyev earning at least four million dollars per year on a long term deal. And with multiple teams interested, a bidding war could ensue, driving that price up even more. Due to the Leafs' cap constraints, they simply cannot afford to keep a middle six winger at that price.

Every year come free agency, we see teams over pay middle of the lineup players. And while Mikheyev would be nice to keep around, it is likely he gets overpaid and/or too much term. Perhaps this is the perfect time for the Maple Leafs to walk away and spend their money elsewhere.