What happens with Mikyehev when he comes back?

[al secord]

I can't get excited about his current form. I just feel like every time he goes into the corner, he's going to get his forearm tendon slit again.

 

[ULF_55]

why are you so concerned with "career highs" when he's never even had the opportunity to play a full season?

He's produced at a 15gl/37pt pace so far in his 96gm game career, despite getting almost no PP time, getting relatively little ice time with top-6 linemates, and despite having to come back from a terrible injury.

Would it really shock you to see him up that pace to over 40pts with PP time and better linemates?

96 - Games
18 - Goals
25 - Assists
43 - Points

Hard to really judge as he's spent half his time in recovery from serious injuries.

 

[LeafGrief]

Huge props to Mikheyev for coming back and playing so well. He's absolutely forced himself back into the lineup and has been playing terrific hockey for us. He's an excellent bottom six presence. That said, I don't think this guy is going to be a sleeper top6 star for us. He uses his speed very well to create breakaways and to play responsible defensive hockey. If he's going to chip in some goals, I'm really happy to have him on the team. But he's not a talented puck handler, passer, or playmaker. Blazing speed and that's about it. He's more than welcome to prove me wrong of course, but out of the guys in the org, Mikheyev is not one that him holding out hopes for. But boy do I think he's a terrific depth player if he can score. We'll almost certainly be keeping him for the playoffs, he's very useful and costs next to no cap space. Whichever team signs him for next year will probably love him when they get a reasonably priced bottom sixer with speed, defensive play, and 30-40 points.

I think he's kind of like a poor man's Kapanen. The speed is all there, oh yes, but Kapanen had a better shot and much better IQ for using his speed to be a threat in the offensive zone. Mikheyev uses his speed to play excellent defensive hockey and to generate some offense, but he's not a particularly threatening or smart player in the offensive zone. He drives play through the neutral zone really well for a bottom sixer, but neither of our top two lines are in need of puck transporters. Mikheyev doesn't have the boardwork or the hands of Hyman either. Again, really happy for the guy, but I think he's a perfect bottom sixer rather than a hidden gem.

 

[hockeywiz542]

With hometown in spotlight, Maple Leafs' Bunting erupts for storybook night - Sportsnet.ca

Show Mickey the Money!!!

Amidst impending UFA Ilya Mikheyev’s run of clutch goals for the Maple Leafs last week, his agent, Dan Milstein, tweeted (then deleted) a photo of himself on the phone with the caption “Show Me the Money!!!”

Milstein explained his fondness for the Jerry McGuire catchphrase Friday on Real Kyper & Bourne.

“The ‘Show Me the Money!!!’ wasn't ‘Kyle Dubas, give me some cash!’ right? Because we haven't had any conversations about an extension, and we don't want to have it [now],” Milstein said. “Ilya is having a wonderful time playing good minutes on a very good, competitive team. ‘Show Me the Money!!!’ was more of, ‘Finally, Ilya is scoring, like, almost at a goal per game.’ It was an exciting moment.”

Why erase the tweet, then?

“I quickly realized the perception that people thought I was going to squeeze some extra cash — and that wasn't my intention at all. ‘Show me the money’ is something I say every single time, and it's not necessarily the contract. It's like, ‘You’re doing great. We're going places!’” Milstein said.

“You know what they say: When you drive a Mercedes, you're going somewhere. But when you drive a Ford, you already got there.”

Milstein is hopeful Dubas took his cheerleading in stride and maintains he has a great relationship with the GM. The two will touch base on the potential of an extension at season’s end, but our bet is Mikheyev will secure his Mercedes money elsewhere.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

What do you think Mikheyev would get on the open market, he scores at a higher rate then guys like Goodrow and Coleman, but they have the cup pedigree. There are plenty of guys like Donskoi and others that play a similar role and make in the neighbourhood of 4.

I bet he could get 4-4.5 on the open market on a 3-4 year deal.
Anyone see a reasonable path to keeping him?

He's been playing great, but I think he is probably gone after this season.

 

[BertCorbeau]

$3-$3.5 x 3/4 years IMO

Not good enough for top 6

 

[TheShape]

Mentioned in the Trades thread but I think we need to find a way to keep Mikheyev. Our LW is bare next season with Bunting as the only sure thing.

Unless someone like Nichushkin is available for around the same price range. Hopefully Kerfoot's money is enough to get it done, another GM will offer more though.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

Mentioned in the Trades thread but I think we need to find a way to keep Mikheyev. Our LW is bare next season with Bunting as the only sure thing.

Unless someone like Nichushkin is available for around the same price range. Hopefully Kerfoot's money is enough to get it done, another GM will offer more though.

I think Robertson will be a full time LW next year, and Engvall.
I think 3.5 would be what Leafs could/would offer, but he can for sure get more on open market.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Yes I am, in his entire NHL career his career high in goals is 8, his career high in points is 23.

You cannot argue that is a top 6 forward.

For me Alex Kerfoot is the bare minimum of a top 6 forward and let me be very clear I still want Alex Kerfoot on the 3rd line because I think most, if not all cup winners have at least 1 guy good enough to be in the top 6 on the 3rd line I think you need that.

But Alex Kerfoot is the bare minimum because Alex Kerfoot can give you 40 points he's done it in Colorado and actually on pace for significantly more right now.

Michael Bunting is another interesting case he has 19 points so far we will see if he keeps it up.

I don't think Mikyehev can give you 40 points, I think he's a good player but I don't think he can hit 20-20 or 15-25 he just doesn't have that offense.

He might have but that wrist injury ended that.

Their per game ice time in Toronto is almost identical, with Mikheyev averaging 2 seconds more. In total ice time, Kerfoot has almost 50% more ES time, more than double the PP time, and marginally more PK time.

Kerfoot, in 193 games for Toronto, has 29 goals and 70 assists, so averaging 42 points per 82 games. He's a +18 with 1 shorthanded goal and 3 GWG, and a faceoff % of 43.5.

Mikheyev, in 136 games for Toronto, has 30 goals and 34 assists, so averaging 39 points per 82 games. He's a +25 with 5 shorthanded goals and 7 GWG, and a faceoff % of 71.4.

If your only criterion for "top 6 forward" is 40 points, then yes, Kerfoot is (barely) top 6 and Mikheyev is (barely) not.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Their per game ice time in Toronto is almost identical, with Mikheyev averaging 2 seconds more. In total ice time, Kerfoot has almost 50% more ES time, more than double the PP time, and marginally more PK time.

Kerfoot, in 193 games for Toronto, has 29 goals and 70 assists, so averaging 42 points per 82 games. He's a +18 with 1 shorthanded goal and 3 GWG, and a faceoff % of 43.5.

Mikheyev, in 136 games for Toronto, has 30 goals and 34 assists, so averaging 39 points per 82 games. He's a +25 with 5 shorthanded goals and 7 GWG, and a faceoff % of 71.4.

If your only criterion for "top 6 forward" is 40 points, then yes, Kerfoot is (barely) top 6 and Mikheyev is (barely) not.

Miehe%v has never had 39 points eve

 

[Ciao]

I think Mikheyev will never be satisfied with what the Leafs can pay him.

It's better for everyone that he try his luck elsewhere.

I don't think he will find a better situation. I expect that wherever he signs, he will be overpaid and his contract will become a burden. Hopefully not a burden to the Leafs.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I don't want to pay him what he's likely to get, I'm enjoying the career year but I question if he can do it going forward or if this is simply that, a career year

Same thing with Engvall, except even more so than Mikyehev, I do not think this is real with Engvall I don't think he's likely to repeat what he's doing next season so I don't really want to pay him either I'd rather put the money to a goalie because I think that is a major need going forward as I don't believe in Campbell anymore and Marazek simply can't come back because he can't play

 

[TMLAM34]

Remember when the Islanders overpaid Kulemin and Komorov? The same situation will likely occur with Mikheyev this off-season.

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Remember when the Islanders overpaid Kulemin and Komorov? The same situation will likely occur with Mikheyev this off-season.

I'm really hoping he ends up respecting that we didn't trade him, that we showed him that we truly like him as a player and he's happy with his ice time now and takes Kerfoots money.

I won't overpay for him even though i really like the player, I'm just hoping both sides can come to a happy medium and he can see the great things he can do here if he stays.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Remember when the Islanders overpaid Kulemin and Komorov? The same situation will likely occur with Mikheyev this off-season.

Komarov was paid for his work ethic, leadership, and dressing room presence, helping to teach the young players how to play the right way, and it worked. He was overpaid by maybe $500K a year and for a year too long (but even that worked out).

Mihkeyev is a totally different beast.

 

[IPS]

The Leafs already have 2/3rds of a great checking line next year with Kampf/Engvall. I doubt it will be that difficult to find a good 3rd piece in the offseason.

It's not worth it to overpay Mikheyev - and the guy came to North America to get retirement-level money, let the man go get it.

 

[ITM]

We can trade his rights before the draft, yes?

 

[Dreakmur]

We can trade his rights before the draft, yes?

Yea, but who’s giving up anything tangible?

 

[Suntouchable13]

If the big 4 will stay intact, Leafs will always have to rotate these kinds of guys in and out because they can't afford to pay them much. Leafs still have to find a good goalie solution in the summer, IMO.

 

[ITM]

Yea, but who’s giving up anything tangible

Sense being, if he isn't going to be "team friendly" we move him for whatever we can get. A 6th or a 7th is better than nothing.

 

[Menzinger]

Soup will be replaced by the next Bunting.

 

[ACC1224]

Soup will be replaced by the next Bunting.

Blackwell?

 

[Dreakmur]

Sense being, if he isn't going to be "team friendly" we move him for whatever we can get. A 6th or a 7th is better than nothing.

Getting something would be great, but I don't see a team paying for a third liner who everyone knows is looking for a payday.

 

[ITM]

Getting something would be great, but I don't see a team paying for a third liner who everyone knows is looking for a payday.

The streak might help to distort perception. Here's hoping.

 

[Americanadian]

Soup will be replaced by the next Bunting.

Aston-Reese?