In this edition of the Vancouver Canucks News & Rumors, the organization is shopping Ilya Mikheyev. Meanwhile, Nikita Zadorov is unlikely to re-sign with the Canucks. Also, the club could trade Elias Lindholm for a draft pick.
The Canucks are reportedly shopping forward Mikheyev. The organization attempted to trade him at the trade deadline and started talks again after they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Russian forward has two years remaining in his deal with a $4.75 million cap hit, which would allow the Canucks to re-sign their other free agents.
Mikheyev struggled to perform during the regular season, scoring 11 goals and posting 31 points, and in the playoffs, he didn’t register a single point through 11 games. Teams are expecting the Canucks to include a sweetener with Mikheyev, but the club believes he will be much better next season as it takes a full year to recover from ACL repair. Mikheyev underwent ACL surgery in February 2023 and wasn’t ready for training camp before the 2023-24 season.
Trading the forward without a sweetener will be difficult for general manager Patrik Allvin. There is no guarantee that Mikheyev will bounce back and return to his old form. Additionally, most teams aren’t willing to take on his $4.5 million salary, especially the way he played this past season.
Zadorov Is Unlikely to Re-Sign
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said it is unlikely the Canucks will re-sign Zadorov. He said he believes the team wasn’t far from the defenceman’s asking price, but neither side is willing to budge. Friedman added that Zadorov would’ve left money on the table to return to Vancouver.
The Canucks’ initial offer to the defenceman had an annual average value (AAV) of $4.5 million. The 6-foot-6 defenceman will have a lot of suitors in free agency willing to pay him a lot more than Vancouver. Zadorov provided an offensive and defensive presence in the playoffs, scoring four goals and posting eight points in 13 games, while throwing 45 hits.
Lindholm Could Be Traded for a Draft Pick
Rick Dhaliwal said Lindholm’s camp is not commenting on whether the forward is hitting free agency on July 1. Therefore, the two sides could still agree on a deal, although that is unlikely. However, the Canucks could trade the forward for a draft pick, as the organization lacks draft capital.
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