Blackhawks Acquire Mikeheyev & Lafferty From Canucks – Hockey Writers – NHL News
The Chicago Blackhawks announced that the team acquired forwards Ilya Mikheyev, Sam Lafferty and a 2027 second-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Vancouver will retain 15% of Mikheyev's salary for the remainder of the contract.
Mikheyev, 29, is under contract for two more seasons at $4.75 million a year – a deal he signed before the 2022-23 season. While his first season with the club was respectable – 13 goals and 28 points in 46 games before he was ruled out with an ACL injury – his production dropped significantly in his second season with the club.
The Omsk, Russia native had 131 points (60G, 71A) in 270 regular season games with Toronto and Vancouver. Mikheyev also made four trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, logging four points (2G, 2A) in 30 postseason games.
Lafferty, 29, enjoyed the most productive season of his career, playing on the Canucks' fourth line. He scored 13 goals and 11 points for 24 points in 79 games. He is a pending unrestricted free agent. Lafferty was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022 for Alexander Nylander. In the following 2022-23 NHL season, while in an offseason for offensive innovation, Lafferty was traded by the rebuilding Blackhawks to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Related: THW 2024 NHL Draft Guide
After locking Teddy Blueger, the Canucks continue to work on trying to create the necessary space to run on the remaining seven free agents, such as Nikita Zadorov, Dakota Joshua, and Elias Lindholm.
Heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, the Hawks hold the No. 2 and No. 18 overall pick, and a pair of picks in the second and third rounds, and two late picks, General Manager Kyle Davidson, an amateur director. Scouting Mike Doneghey and the young team are more confident than ever about their approach heading into the weekend – the third draft since Davidson took over as GM. They have options that could set them up for success in the near future, while the Canucks make moves that will allow them to continue to build on the success they saw in the 2023-24 season.
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