Losing Mikheyev? Blackhawks Make Forward's Rights Available Via Trade

According to reports from insider Elliotte Friedman, the Chicago Blackhawks have made forward Ilya Mikheyev’s rights available via the trade market. Although a lucrative package in return for the rights to sign Mikheyev is unlikely, any team that really likes him would get a chance to sign him before July 1.

More notably, this report clearly notes that the Hawks and Mikheyev’s camp are nowhere close on extension talks. There were reports suggesting that Mikheyev was kept at the deadline to extend him, but its now clear that the outcome is unlikely.

Mikheyev will be a big loss for the Blackhawks, specifically on the penalty kill. The former Vancouver Canuck has become one of the best penalty killers in the league since his arrival in Chicago, helping the Blackhawks finish top-five as a unit this past season. His departure would force the youngsters to step up if the team is going to repeat their success on special teams.

If the Blackhawks find a trade partner for Mikheyev’s rights, a mid-to-late-round pick is the likely return. Or, Mikheyev’s rights could be used as a sweetener in a pre-July 1 trade if Kyle Davidson can find a partner.

How Do They Replace Him?

The question that lingers now is simple. How will the Hawks replace him? Offensively speaking, finding roughly 40 points is definitely an achievable goal. Whether it happens internally, or a trade/free agent fills the void, the offense can be replicated. Defensively, that is more difficult.

The Blackhawks have players internally that could, and will likely need to, step up. Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar, and Anton Frondell feel like players who can grow defensively. Teuvo Teravainen is still on the roster, too. Ryan Donato and Ryan Greene will also be leaned on heavier to make up the difference.

Regardless, Mikheyev is a loss that the team and fans were not hoping for. In fact, he’s one of the few veterans on the roster that the fanbase wanted to keep the most. Now, Kyle Davidson has extra work to do this summer if this roster is going to take a large leap forward.