Ilya Mikheyev's breakout season.

[Nylanderthal]

He’s the kind of guy who you love having at 1.5-2m once you pay these kind of guys 3-4-5m you limit what else you can do with the line up

 

[ShaneFalco]

Good player under $2m per but wonder if we can find a better UFA for 2.5m. (Marchment, Rodriguez, Sturm). I don't think Mik is going to win you a playoff game like a Palat.

Nope. To many of the same types of players and he'll get overpaid somewhere

 

[mydnyte]

Ilya Mikheyev is coming off a breakout season with 21 goals in just 53 games including 4 on the PP and 4 more SH, and really started showing progress using his wheels to generate offense.

He is 27 years old and a pending UFA after making $1.645 mil last year.

Will he be back with the Leafs as one of those secondary scoring pieces. or will his new next contract be too much for him to stay?

What is the price to keep him?

he completely vanished when it matters most... buh-bye

 

[ponder]

he completely vanished when it matters most... buh-bye

He put up 2 goals, 2 assists and even +/- in our series against Tampa. He put up more points than every Leaf but Matthews, Marner, Nylander, JT and Rielly (and was tied with JT and Rielly for even strength points). Also killed penalties and was physical. He was good in that series, a strong bottom 6er, I really don’t see how he “disappeared”.

Previous playoffs, fair to say he was disappointing, but he was good for us in the playoffs this past year. IMO this was a breakout season for him in both the regular season and playoffs.

I do agree he’d be a mistake to sign around $4 mil AAV, but if we can get him at $2-2.5 mil, no brainer IMO. I’d personally go as high as $3 mil AAV.

 

[ShaneFalco]

He put up 2 goals, 2 assists and even +/- in our series against Tampa. He put up more points than every Leaf but Matthews, Marner, Nylander, JT and Rielly (and was tied with JT and Rielly for even strength points). Also killed penalties and was physical. He was good in that series, a strong bottom 6er, I really don’t see how he “disappeared”.

Previous playoffs, fair to say he was disappointing, but he was good for us in the playoffs this past year. IMO this was a breakout season for him in both the regular season and playoffs.

I do agree he’d be a mistake to sign around $4 mil AAV, but if we can get him at $2-2.5 mil, no brainer IMO. I’d personally go as high as $3 mil AAV.

3 I could do but that's it. Need a new look in bottom 6
His goals were both empty netters btw

 

[Racer88]

Cap hell means he must go. He's priced himself out of the bargain bin where Dubas likes to shop for the bottom six.

 

[Menzinger]

Fun player and would be fine bringing him back for a cheaper deal. But think he will get bigger money elsewhere and the Leafs can get better bang for their buck spending on other guys

His complete lack of playoff production is another main reason to not invest bigger dollars on a longer deal

 

[ULF_55]

Fun player and would be fine bringing him back for a cheaper deal. But think he will get bigger money elsewhere and the Leafs can get better bang for their buck spending on other guys

His complete lack of playoff production is another main reason to not invest bigger dollars on a longer deal

Kind of difficult to defend some of the players performance in the post-season.

I think they should give the prospects some ice time.

Play-the-kids.

They aren't just prospects who left junior in 2021 ... they are 22, 23, 24, 25 years old.

So really, they aren't even kids, they're prospects.

Play-the-prospects!

 

[keonsbitterness]

If you can get him at a good price and you think he's developing into a better player (I do), then you re-sign him.

 

[JayfromNB1219]

I say keep him that kind of speed doesn't come around often and everyone can say what they want the man is responsible defensively and has never been given an extended look with a nylander/Tavares (ala Kerfoot) you can't count out those guys who had to put offense on the backburner in order to get their playing time especially one with the pedigree of Mik internationally (plays with Russia's top 2 lines) tell him 2nd line is his to lose and let's see what he really is... 3-4M over 2 years and take the leash off... Really think he's part of the solution and not the problem... With that being said make very clear he's expected to step up physically on his line as the dude is actually a beast... We need another bunting not a reaves

 

[mydnyte]

He put up 2 goals, 2 assists and even +/- in our series against Tampa. He put up more points than every Leaf but Matthews, Marner, Nylander, JT and Rielly (and was tied with JT and Rielly for even strength points). Also killed penalties and was physical. He was good in that series, a strong bottom 6er, I really don’t see how he “disappeared”.

Previous playoffs, fair to say he was disappointing, but he was good for us in the playoffs this past year. IMO this was a breakout season for him in both the regular season and playoffs.

I do agree he’d be a mistake to sign around $4 mil AAV, but if we can get him at $2-2.5 mil, no brainer IMO. I’d personally go as high as $3 mil AAV.

what i mean by he vanished is when he was on the ice, he did nothing offensively. Kamph, who is by no means an offensive threat was much more dangerous (and successful) offensively. Mik was in no way the same player that he was in the regular season, and i'd only even consider bringing him back at 2mil or less, which is not likely.

 

[JayfromNB1219]

I say keep him that kind of speed doesn't come around often and everyone can say what they want the man is responsible defensively and has never been given an extended look with a nylander/Tavares (ala Kerfoot) you can't count out those guys who had to put offense on the backburner in order to get their playing time especially one with the pedigree of Mik internationally (plays with Russia's top 2 lines) tell him 2nd line is his to lose and let's see what he really is... 3-4M over 2 years and take the leash off... Really think he's part of the solution and not the problem... With that being said make very clear he's expected to step up physically on his line as the dude is actually a beast... We need another bunting not a reaves

At 3-4M it's an easy contract to move if 8t doesn't work as I'm sure many NHL teams see him as worth that as minimum

 

[TheRumble]

Great player. Unlike other posters, I have zero complaints about him or what he did while he was here. Wish him the best of luck.

He's a Russian immigrant who didn't make the NHL until he was 25 so he likely only has 1 shot at making significant money before he retires. I don't blame him one bit for chasing the coin.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Kind of difficult to defend some of the players performance in the post-season.

I think they should give the prospects some ice time.

Play-the-kids.

They aren't just prospects who left junior in 2021 ... they are 22, 23, 24, 25 years old.

So really, they aren't even kids, they're prospects.

Play-the-prospects!

I agree with this, you have to have a spot open for the young guys to compete for, I’m not suggesting handing them a spot, but there shouldn’t be so much glut you can’t work these guys in and give them an honest crack at making the line up.
I’d look at altering a lot of the bottom 6 aside from kampf and maybe engvall and bring in 3 big north south types. One think is I’d definitely leave a spot open on L4 for Steeves Douglas holmberg Roberson Anderson sda abruzzese idk which one but at least one of them has to turn into a player and grab a full time spot, and if not you can get a grinder mid season. Those guys are always on waivers or available in trade. But first half of the season should be an open audition for these young guys to show if they can hang or not
Something like
Paul kampf engvall
ZAR Helm kid
Would be a lot better than what we’ve rolled out in the past

 

[justashadowof]

Mikheyev in the Kerfoot role would be a mismatch.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I agree with this, you have to have a spot open for the young guys to compete for, I’m not suggesting handing them a spot, but there shouldn’t be so much glut you can’t work these guys in and give them an honest crack at making the line up.
I’d look at altering a lot of the bottom 6 aside from kampf and maybe engvall and bring in 3 big north south types. One think is I’d definitely leave a spot open on L4 for Steeves Douglas holmberg Roberson Anderson sda abruzzese idk which one but at least one of them has to turn into a player and grab a full time spot, and if not you can get a grinder mid season. Those guys are always on waivers or available in trade. But first half of the season should be an open audition for these young guys to show if they can hang or not
Something like
Paul kampf engvall
ZAR Helm kid
Would be a lot better than what we’ve rolled out in the past

Paul-Kampf-Engvall/Blackwell
Robertson-Tierney-Holmberg

Tierney is at least a bottom 6 centre that could help Robertson offensively, not like Simmonds.

Speaking of Simmonds, man is waived.

 

[TGB]

This is the guy's one and only chance to collect a big pay day. He knows that major injury could come back to bite him at any time. He's going to ask for big money and term.

So, no, the Leafs likely can't afford him and a #1 goalie.

 

[ULF_55]

I agree with this, you have to have a spot open for the young guys to compete for, I’m not suggesting handing them a spot, but there shouldn’t be so much glut you can’t work these guys in and give them an honest crack at making the line up.
I’d look at altering a lot of the bottom 6 aside from kampf and maybe engvall and bring in 3 big north south types. One think is I’d definitely leave a spot open on L4 for Steeves Douglas holmberg Roberson Anderson sda abruzzese idk which one but at least one of them has to turn into a player and grab a full time spot, and if not you can get a grinder mid season. Those guys are always on waivers or available in trade. But first half of the season should be an open audition for these young guys to show if they can hang or not
Something like
Paul kampf engvall
ZAR Helm kid
Would be a lot better than what we’ve rolled out in the past

They have 8 forward prospects between age 22-26.
If they can't find 2 bottom 6 players from that group perhaps time to clean house in the scouting department.

 

[LeafSteel]

I like Mik, but I don't think he brings enough for what he will be asking and getting on the open market.

I don't see him taking a top 6 role, and our bottom 6 was the difference in our loss to Tampa. I could see him on the 3rd line, but as other posters have pointed out, Mik hasn't taken it to another level in the Playoffs, and that is what we need from our bottom 6.

Like Mik and always pulled for him, but I don't see many scenarios where what kind of $$$ he asks for, and what we need from him line up together......

 

[Mess]

Fun player and would be fine bringing him back for a cheaper deal. But think he will get bigger money elsewhere and the Leafs can get better bang for their buck spending on other guys

His complete lack of playoff production is another main reason to not invest bigger dollars on a longer deal

Perhaps not the best way to judge, as sometimes that player leaving shows what is possible.

Hyman had 1 goal in 7 games as a Leaf, but in 16 games as Oiler he produced 11-5-16 points.

Would you pay $5.5 mil for a player that produces at PPG in the playoffs with 11 goals in 16 games?

Mikheyev had a breakout year scoring 21 goals in only 53 games and really starting to find his stride utilizing his speed, to created endless scoring opportunities and with 4 PPG and 4 SH goals shows he can play in all situations. If given the right opportunity he could be a real asset, He is a more effective player than Kerfoot whom the Leafs are paying $3.5 mil.

 

[Racer88]

Perhaps not the best way to judge, as sometimes that player leaving shows what is possible.

Hyman had 1 goal in 7 games as a Leaf, but in 16 games as Oiler he produced 11-5-16 points.

Would you pay $5.5 mil for a player that produces at PPG in the playoffs with 11 goals in 16 games?

Mikheyev had a breakout year scoring 21 goals in only 53 games and really starting to find his stride utilizing his speed, to created endless scoring opportunities and with 4 PPG and 4 SH goals shows he can play in all situations. If given the right opportunity he could be a real asset, He is a more effective player than Kerfoot whom the Leafs are paying $3.5 mil.

We are paying 11 million 3 times over and don’t get that kind of production

 

[Trapper]

Good player under $2m per but wonder if we can find a better UFA for 2.5m. (Marchment, Rodriguez, Sturm). I don't think Mik is going to win you a playoff game like a Palat.

Palat is on another level an hence does not make 2mil. These are your 3.5/4 million guys that bridge the gap between the top guys and the fill ins. They can play up and down the lineup and contribute. They have impact.

Areas we don’t have enough of.
1 11 mil contract is an entire line of that.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Palat is on another level an hence dies not make 2mil. These are your 3.5/4 million guys that bridge the gap between the top guys and the fill ins. They can play up and down the lineup and contribute. They have impact.

Areas we don’t have enough of.
1 11 mil contract is an entire line of that.

That's the big issue for the Leafs...there are no good solid guys playing 3rd and 4th line minutes...it's either the big 4 and then we hope the bottom 6 doesn't get killed while playing their minutes. The middle class of players is what we lack because of our cap situation. A whole line of pretty good players is tied up in JT's money alone. This is stupid when JT is barely a ppg player and pretty much doesn't raise his game in the playoffs.

 

[Racer88]

That's the big issue for the Leafs...there are no good solid guys playing 3rd and 4th line minutes...it's either the big 4 and then we hope the bottom 6 doesn't get killed while playing their minutes. The middle class of players is what we lack because of our cap situation. A whole line of pretty good players is tied up in JT's money alone. This is stupid when JT is barely a ppg player and pretty much doesn't raise his game in the playoffs.

You are 100% accurate.

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

Palat is on another level an hence does not make 2mil. These are your 3.5/4 million guys that bridge the gap between the top guys and the fill ins. They can play up and down the lineup and contribute. They have impact.

Areas we don’t have enough of.
1 11 mil contract is an entire line of that.

Our cap does not stop us having a Palat. We don't have a Palat because of management.

Show me howcome we couldn't have had a team of palat @ 5.3, matthews marner tavares nylander in the playoffs this season. We don't need Mrazek and Holl. There's your Palat money right there if we unloaded Mrazek and Holl when we had the chance. Teams called for Mrazek at one point, we had an out. Kallgren came up as a suitable backup.

Our Palat was Kadri who makes even less than Palat. How much does Marchment and Moore type players make? How much did Coleman and Goodrow make for Tampa? How much did Wilson make for Caps when they win?

You guys clueless just like the GM. The core is not the problem. You also need to be careful with these middle class guys. 1-2 mil depth players are capable of shutting them down in the playoffs now if you find the right ones and have young cheap ones who didn't get paid yet. Live in fantasy world if you think you can just lose a John Tavares and go fill the void with three 4 mil players. Thats not how league works today.