Teammates impressed with the play of pending UFA Ilya Mikheyev this season
Ilya Mikheyev has been on an absolute tear since the calendar turned to 2022. So much so that he has been scoring at a 30 goal, 45 point pace since. While he is still trying to find consistency in point production, he has become one of the Leafs' most reliable checkers and shutdown forwards.
Mostly playing on a line with David Kampf and Pierre Engvall, Mikheyev and his line mates have excelled at shutting down opponents' top lines by mainly hemming them in in their own zone using the cycle. He has always been part of the Leafs penalty kill, but since the start of 2022 has become one of Keefe's most trusted players and now leads the Leafs with 3 shorthanded goals.
A common compliment amongst his teammates is how he uses his world class speed in combination with his work ethic all over the ice to create and prevent scoring chances. Those skills, along with his new found self-confidence, have taken his game to new heights and has made him a very important piece to Toronto's potential playoff success.
Morgan Rielly, John Tavares and Mitch Marner each spoke about how much Mikheyev's play has meant to the team.
"Just his speed, his presence, his competitiveness on pucks, just everything, really. In general he's done great, penalty-kill wise, getting on that forecheck. He's been using his body. He's a big powerful guy and when he does that it's hard to get him off that puck. He's done a great job of it. That speed there of just taking it to the net and holding onto it and having patience, it's a great play and he's been great here the last couple of games."
- Marner on Mikheyev
"Mikky is such a workhorse, a thoroughbred with his speed and you can just see the confidence and belief continue to grow and grow and just the impact he can make and how he's just feeling really good with the puck on his stick in those situations. He's been doing that for us the last couple of years, but he just continues to grow more and more comfortable in himself and his game and how he can make an impact and obviously finish plays off. Such an important player for us in so many facets so it's great to see him contribute offensively and score some big goals and be such a threat that way."
- Tavares on Mikheyev
"I think he's got world-class speed and he's able to use that to create scoring chances to create odd-man rushes. On the PK, you've seen it lately he's been able to jump plays and jump on loose pucks and create breakaways for himself and 2-on-1s. When he puts the puck on the net like that, he's extremely dangerous. It's not that easy to score. He uses his speed. extremely well. He's extremely valuable to us even when he's not putting the puck in the net. When he's been able to do what he's done lately, it's great. He's a guy who works hard, he enjoys it here and he's been able to put a good string together here and playing great hockey for us."
- Rielly on Mikheyev
With Mikheyev having requested a trade in the offseason, it's unlikely that he returns with the team this summer. But perhaps a lengthy playoff run could help change his mind.
| POLL |
MARS 28 | 245 ANSWERS Teammates impressed with the play of pending UFA Ilya Mikheyev this season Will Mikheyev re-sign in Toronto this summer? |
| Absolutely | 50 | 20.4 % |
| Not a chance | 52 | 21.2 % |
| It will depend on the opportunity Keefe can offer | 61 | 24.9 % |
| It's all about the money. Dubas doesn't have it | 82 | 33.5 % |
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