Ilya Mikheyev asked for a trade

[Wafflewhipper]

My thoughts exactly. Contrary to what he thinks I think the organization has been more than fair to him - he had multiple shots at the top-6 and he never cracked it. His playoffs were a straight disgrace too, one of the biggest passengers on the team the last 2 years.

Start him on the 4th line this year and tell him to earn it the real way.

That’s completely true. 4 liner is what he is and a darn good one. He was given opportunity and didn’t produce. I’ll give him injury pass for so long and then it becomes a entitlement issue. He might be falling in to a entitled type issue category. He can’t produce much lately. Maybe he is being paid to much actually if all he can do is play defensively. Adam brooks can play as sound defensively as any in his pay grade and he can actually show some poise around the net scoring.
Mikheyev skates fast and isn’t scoring. That’s my evaluation of him. Trade him out and Gogolev for instance takes his spot. We can’t have whiners around the locker-room it is not good ever. I really don’t understand why Dubas refused him a trade accommodation actually. I wish him the best obviously but expect little from this guy now.

 

[PromisedLand]

amazing seeing all the anti-Mikheyev posts. WTF do you guys want? Whats your sales pitch to Mikheyev?

umm... why you want trade? So what if we paid 50% of the cap money to 4 players? So what if we suck ass in the playoffs and the "high AAV players don't show up when it matters!".

So what if your ice time and role is diminished?

You will win here as you have seen since you've been here....



Mikheyev is going to walk after this season if not this season; meanwhile not sure how much of his heart will be in on ice performance especially since he doesn't want to be here.

Quite frankly I don't blame Mikeheyev given the team culture and how the GM/Coach run this team.

 

[PromisedLand]

My thoughts exactly. Contrary to what he thinks I think the organization has been more than fair to him - he had multiple shots at the top-6 and he never cracked it. His playoffs were a straight disgrace too, one of the biggest passengers on the team the last 2 years.

Start him on the 4th line this year and tell him to earn it the real way.

Did Thornton deserve the PP minutes and Top 6 minutes? What about Vesey?

As a player you see these things and remember how you are being treated. When the coach/gm of the team do not run the team based on accountability the dressing room culture eventually starts to get toxic

 

[PromisedLand]

If role & icetime are the issues then I could easily see his icetime become something he's happy with.

His role ain't changing though until he learns how to finish again, that's up to him.

the so called "new shiny toys"

- Ritchie, Bunting, Kampf

are not known for "finish" just FYI

 

[IPS]

Did Thornton deserve the PP minutes and Top 6 minutes? What about Vesey?

As a player you see these things and remember how you are being treated. When the coach/gm of the team do not run the team based on accountability the dressing room culture eventually starts to get toxic

Truth be told the lineup of LW's after Hyman was quite pathetic last year. Their idea of spreading the talent last year was putting Thornton and Vesey on the top 2 lines with Hyman to drive the 3rd lines. It eventually had to change because it became obvious those 2 were awful in the top-6, but somehow Mikheyev wasn't able to secure a spot there despite the revolving door. But yes, the bias shown for Thornton was so annoying, he didn't do shit on the PP yet somehow kept finding himself on the 1st unit..

I suppose we'll see if the Bunting/Ritchie options work any better.

 

[PromisedLand]

Truth be told the lineup of LW's after Hyman was quite pathetic last year. Their idea of spreading the talent last year was putting Thornton and Vesey on the top 2 lines with Hyman to drive the 3rd lines. It eventually had to change because it became obvious those 2 were awful in the top-6, but somehow Mikheyev wasn't able to secure a spot there despite the revolving door. But yes, the bias shown for Thornton was so annoying, he didn't do shit on the PP yet somehow kept finding himself on the 1st unit..

I suppose we'll see if the Bunting/Ritchie options work any better.

But that is the argument.... Mikheyev wasn't able to secure the spot. I would argue Mikheyev did not get the same look (long enough) that was afforded to Jumbo or Vesey.

I am sure if Mikheyev got the same treatment as Jumbo/Vesey/Galchenyuk and if he didnt produce and then was relegated to the ice-time/role that he was; he wouldn't complain or request a trade.

Even in the playoffs Keefe didn't change anything up when habs came back to win 3 games in a row while down 3-1 in the series and Leafs weren't getting enough offense. As a player you see things, and the results and then you are allowed to show distrust in coach/gm when their decisions didn't lead to desired results.

Nylander was HOT in the playoffs how many minutes did he get compared to how many minutes he should have gotten. I am surprised Willy isn't pissed off too

Boston fans were pissed off at Ritchie for being lazy and having no finish last season. I didn't watch much of Bunting but given his stats I am not sure he will be "the" guy to help out. To be seen I guess

 

[Wafflewhipper]

amazing seeing all the anti-Mikheyev posts. WTF do you guys want? Whats your sales pitch to Mikheyev?

umm... why you want trade? So what if we paid 50% of the cap money to 4 players? So what if we suck ass in the playoffs and the "high AAV players don't show up when it matters!".

So what if your ice time and role is diminished?

You will win here as you have seen since you've been here....



Mikheyev is going to walk after this season if not this season; meanwhile not sure how much of his heart will be in on ice performance especially since he doesn't want to be here.

Quite frankly I don't blame Mikeheyev given the team culture and how the GM/Coach run this team.

Mikheyev kind of made his own bed requesting a trade. Give him his wish if their isn’t a mutual fit is my ground i take on it. Nothing wrong with keeping everything positive around the teams inner workings.
I’m not anti Mikheyev. I still believe trading him is best for both sides. There are numerous pro’s and cons to moving him but no different than any other team dilemma than any other team has to go through annually building out a roster.
I’m kind of baffled Dubas didn’t accommodate him because i think the dispute is based on Mikheyev wanting more icetime and management communicating to him he will be filling a defensive role. A contract year in which Soup wants to take advantage of the rosters offensive prowess in the top six would boost his point totals for a better contract. Thats what i see being the why the trade was requested. He has to earn that reward not demand it correct....

He might be a little high on himself or feels hard done by. The cure to that is produce and it speaks for itself. I think he will just come back in that defensive role and stew about it.

That said, what teams top six does he think he will slide in to in a trade? It’s not on any contender. So is he all about the money and doesn’t care if he’s traded to a non playoff team as long as he gets top 6 minutes to prop up his salary potential.

He didn’t produce enough to expect more minutes. So he will come in not accepting his defensive role because hevis thinking it is beneath him maybe.

It doesn’t make sense to keep a disgruntled guy on the team.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Or maybe Mikheyev isn’t convinced this team is capable of or committed to winning when it matters.

No thanks to him lol, 0 pts in 12 GP. I'd look in the mirror if I was him and this is a guy who is very soured about the team.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

If Robertson makes the cut move him right away. If not wait for the best return maybe at the deadline unless he whines again.

 

[Amadeus]

If Robertson makes the cut move him right away. If not wait for the best return maybe at the deadline unless he whines again.

I don't think Robertson is ready to handle a full year. Mikheyev needs to be kept even if for depth.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I don't think Robertson is ready to handle a full year. Mikheyev needs to be kept even if for depth.

I’m hoping he is. His release this year looks better if you can believe that. His shot looks improved and he looks really to be in a league of his own among rookies. Main camp will tell the tale. It is best to keep Mikheyev until we get the best deal for him. Dubas doesn’t have to deal him one little bit if he doesn’t want to. Absolutely the depth is worth keeping too.

 

[nuck]

I don't think Robertson is ready to handle a full year. Mikheyev needs to be kept even if for depth.

All other factors excluded, Mik stays around for Semyonov.

 

[Stonehands1990]

My thoughts exactly. Contrary to what he thinks I think the organization has been more than fair to him - he had multiple shots at the top-6 and he never cracked it. His playoffs were a straight disgrace too, one of the biggest passengers on the team the last 2 years.

Start him on the 4th line this year and tell him to earn it the real way.

He’s probably gone at the TDL. We need picks and Robertson will be ready by then. Also Engvall is fairly similar. I’d trade both if I’m being honest

 

[jiggy35]

I do like the idea of:

Ritchie - Matthews - Nylander
Mikheyev - Tavares - Marner

and figuring out the bottom 6 from there

 

[ULF_55]

I've requested trades before ... heck over the past 50 years I've switched teams 10 times, mind you some of them were short term contracts (less then 3 months) but it was all about trying to improve my life / family's life although 1 was redundancy after 15 years. I've also sought other transfers that never happened and it didn't impact my performance, nor did teammates think any less of me. Most have the same goal, quality of life.

I think it is that way for most so a big nothingburger.

 

[Macallan18]

Hands of Stone. Won't be missed.
I think Dubas said hell no because he didn't want other GM's offering 7th rounders for Soupman when he is clearly worth at least a 5th.
Much Ado About Nothing.

 

[DarkKnight]

Scotty Mac says Mik wants to play in the top 6, maybe he was promised such a roll and it is why he chose Toronto. If he wants out, you gotta move him.

Maybe if stone hands could finish he would be in top 6. This stuff bugs me, he’s been given the chance and hasn’t delivered to justify, simple as that. Wants a trade, that’s so disappointing.

 

[ToneDog]

Mik obviously is looking at his next contract. If he has a decent year, will we be able to afford him at $2m per ?? If not, move him now if you can get a decent return, otherwise play him with Tavares and if he does well, then look to move him in season. Failing that, another own rental and frees up 1.65m in cap space.

 

[ToneDog]

Maybe if stone hands could finish he would be in top 6. This stuff bugs me, he’s been given the chance and hasn’t delivered to justify, simple as that. Wants a trade, that’s so disappointing.

Kid is looking to set himself up for a bigger payday (like most players) which I doubt we can afford with Rielly and Soup looking for new deals. IMO Dubas should be aggressively looking to move him. He is meh but losing another asset for nothing doesn't seem to be the wise thing to do.

 

[ToneDog]

Hands of Stone. Won't be missed.
I think Dubas said hell no because he didn't want other GM's offering 7th rounders for Soupman when he is clearly worth at least a 5th.
Much Ado About Nothing.

You can probably say that for any of our forwards not numbered 16,34,88 and 91. Heck some are saying that about Hyman who was our #5 best forward.

Yup you can easily replace individual depth forwards but when you are replacing 4 or 5 of them on a yearly basis, I find it hard to believe that you can find the right combination to a Cup.

 

[Fogelhund]

Mik obviously is looking at his next contract. If he has a decent year, will we be able to afford him at $2m per ?? If not, move him now if you can get a decent return, otherwise play him with Tavares and if he does well, then look to move him in season. Failing that, another own rental and frees up 1.65m in cap space.

I don't see the point in moving him. If he performs well enough to be unaffordable, it's because he performed at a decent level for us. We need performances from our depth.

Gutting some of that depth, to pick up a 3rd/4th rounder, that might help in a few years, or not, doesn't seem to be productive to me.

Worrying about losing depth players to UFA, doesn't make sense. A core guy like Mo... sure.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Forwards getting paid in Leafland is not going to occur for anyone else next 3 years .. Leafs will pay Rielly and a tender and that's it folks .. it will be a rotating crew and guys like Mik who want to get top 6 lines/minutes so they can get paid are not interested in being here .. da hate towards Soupy seems very off base to me

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Forwards getting paid in Leafland is not going to occur for anyone else next 3 years .. Leafs will pay Rielly and a tender and that's it folks .. it will be a rotating crew and guys like Mik who want to get top 6 lines/minutes so they can get paid are not interested in being here .. da hate towards Soupy seems very off base to me

It’s not hate. He’s a bottom 6 guy as shown through his production and actually fits well and best where plays bottom 6 and he wants out of that role. He can get top 6 minutes in the league but not on a top team or even a playoff team.
He’s not getting top 6 minutes because he doesn’t deserve them. Disappeared in both playoff and didn’t raise his game either. Would hurt my feeling moving him if Robertson keeps coming through main camp and makes the team.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

It’s not hate. He’s a bottom 6 guy as shown through his production and actually fits well and best where plays bottom 6 and he wants out of that role. He can get top 6 minutes in the league but not on a top team or even a playoff team.
He’s not getting top 6 minutes because he doesn’t deserve them. Disappeared in both playoff and didn’t raise his game either. Would hurt my feeling moving him if Robertson keeps coming through main camp and makes the team.

I don't like him as a player much either .. useless when it counts in playoffs .. my point was he is one of many guys who want to come here and play only on top 2 lines so they can get their $$$ and contract .. da rumour with guys was when he came to team from Russia was Babs told him he would play 1 season on 3rd line to prove himself and then he would get opportunity to play with Matty .. things changed after Babs was let go and that is life in da fast lane of pro hockey .. sh*t happens .. it is really no surprise to many of us that he wants out .. bottom line is he is not happy here anymore and needs to be moved for good of team so he can get what he came to NHL to begin with -- da $$$ .. but even though I don't like him as a player I can totally get where he is coming from .. he was not given da chance he was promised

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Unfortunate as he looked real good before that injury. Like his speed as a utility guy, but with the lack of offense he just isn't a top 6 guy.