Friedman: Ilya Mikheyev requests a trade

[Tobias Kahun]

Cant blame him.

 

[10Ducky10]

Every team is supposed to have 3 or 4 players tthat want out at any given time.

 

[El Travo]

Play out the contract you signed or go back to Russia. Hell, just tell management that you're going to test free agency next off-season and go from there. Requesting a trade after barely playing over a full season of NHL hockey just seems whiney.

 

[KlefDown]

Good soup.

 

[dubey]

Forgot he still played for the Leafs

 

[Leaf Fans]

Cant blame him.

Of course not.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Good soup.

We have another soup.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

eVeRyOnE wAnTs To PlAy FoR tHe LeAfS

 

[Leaf Fans]

eVeRyOnE wAnTs To PlAy FoR tHe LeAfS

Not everyone.

 

[Langdon Alger]

Could end up 4th line, but sure.

Have you seen the Leafs LW depth?

 

[peconcan]

Oh well hope we just trade for a pick and free up some cap, gives guys like Robertson Malgin and Anderson a shot

 

[The Expert]

Hard to blame him, probably wants to see what the second round of the playoffs are like.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Have you seen the Leafs LW depth?

I have:

Position	Starter	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Left Wing	W. Nylander	N. Ritchie	A. Kerfoot	M. Bunting

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Mikheyev can play there too.

 

[notbias]

Have you seen the Leafs LW depth?

Bunting and Ritchie are likely ahead of Mikheyev
Nylander sometimes players LW and could if Kase can stay healthy, allows Kase to play top 6 RW
Robertson may end up playing in top 9 by season's end as well
Kerfoot may end up playing LW this year

Pre-injury Mikheyev was great, but if he lacks finish as badly as last year, he is better suited for a bottom 6 role and will likely play there.

Also, a side note, Mikheyev also plays RW so we may see him there this year

 

[seanlinden]

I get why Mikheyev would have requested a trade -- he went from being a big part of the Leafs offence in his rookie year, to being rather insignificant in his sophomore year, having guys like Kerfoot, Vesey, Galchenyuk, Simmonds, Thornton and then Foligno all surpass him on the depth chart at various points. At 26 years old, this is a pretty critical year for him, so I'm sure he wants to be in a good spot.

I can also see why Dubas would not accommodate such a request. The Leafs LW depth is atrocious... it's basically him, Nick Ritchie, Michael Bunting, and Nick Robertson competing for what is likely the top 3 spots, and none of those guys are objectively or significantly better than Mikheyev.

That being said, the wisdom of denying a trade request for a russian guy (when how they're treated is a reason the Leafs do so well in getting KHL free agents), who's a year away from UFA is certainly questionable.

My guess is that unlike Zaitsev, the request was entirely about role on the team (otherwise they would have traded him); and that the Leafs do have every plan to try and have him succeed as a top 6 winger, hoping that it puts him into a position where he'd want to extend. Personally, I actually think he'd be a decent fit alongside Auston Matthews.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Honestly I don't like Dubas but this is great, this is what teams need to do to prevent this shit becoming like the NBA. Don't give in, you signed a contract, either sit at home and make no money or play.

You likely don't know the full story. Avoid making rash conclusions.

 

[Michoulicious]

Who?

 

[Edgelord]

These emotional rollercoasters will be the death of me.

I like this post, I like it lots

Honestly I don't like Dubas but this is great, this is what teams need to do to prevent this shit becoming like the NBA. Don't give in, you signed a contract, either sit at home and make no money or play.

I also like this post

 

[Mr Positive]

I get why Mikheyev would have requested a trade -- he went from being a big part of the Leafs offence in his rookie year, to being rather insignificant in his sophomore year, having guys like Kerfoot, Vesey, Galchenyuk, Simmonds, Thornton and then Foligno all surpass him on the depth chart at various points. At 26 years old, this is a pretty critical year for him, so I'm sure he wants to be in a good spot.

I can also see why Dubas would not accommodate such a request. The Leafs LW depth is atrocious... it's basically him, Nick Ritchie, Michael Bunting, and Nick Robertson competing for what is likely the top 3 spots, and none of those guys are objectively or significantly better than Mikheyev.

That being said, the wisdom of denying a trade request for a russian guy (when how they're treated is a reason the Leafs do so well in getting KHL free agents), who's a year away from UFA is certainly questionable.

My guess is that unlike Zaitsev, the request was entirely about role on the team (otherwise they would have traded him); and that the Leafs do have every plan to try and have him succeed as a top 6 winger, hoping that it puts him into a position where he'd want to extend. Personally, I actually think he'd be a decent fit alongside Auston Matthews.

That logic doesnt compute with me, unless this report is 8 months delayed. If he wants out because he was the odd one out, shouldn't he finally be happy now that the depth has thinned out?

 

[Bellefour20]

I don't know what is worse, Soup wanting out of Toronto, or Dubas telling him he is a key part of the team.

 

[Langdon Alger]

I have:

Position	Starter	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Left Wing	W. Nylander	N. Ritchie	A. Kerfoot	M. Bunting

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Mikheyev can play there too.

And if Nylander is on RW and Kerfoot is at centre?

 

[AcerComputer]

I don't know what is worse, Soup wanting out of Toronto, or Dubas telling him he is a key part of the team.

After his play last year, he should have been traded and clear his cap space.

 

[SensFactor]

Hard to blame him, probably wants to see what the second round of the playoffs are like.

Shots fired

 

[CupofOil]

He has a career high of 8 goals at age 26 and is requesting a trade. The cojones on this guy.

 

[Mikeshane]

He saw Dubas was coming back and knew they aren't interested in winning.