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3 Toronto Maple Leafs Breakout Candidates for Next Season

By Joseph Zita

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 25: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sharks 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 25: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sharks 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 25: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images). /

2. Ilya Mikheyev – 25 years old – LW/RW

2019-20 stats – 39 GP – 8 G – 15 A – 23 PTS – 53.48 CF%

At my number two spot I have the soup lover, Ilya Mikheyev.

Mikheyev came bursting onto the scene this past season for the Toronto Maple Leafs putting up 23 points in 39 games. Now we all know why he only played in 39 games and it was due to a horrific hand injury sustained back at the end of December against the New Jersey Devils.

Now just like Sandin’s case some people may think I’m crazy for having Ilya Mikheyev on this list especially at number two but I truly think if Mikheyev gets re-signed by the Leafs he will prove to be an impact player.

I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, he was on pace for around a 50 point season this year if he stayed healthy through all 82 games and if he played in all 82 games I could even maybe see him even get close to 60 points.

For next year I could maybe see him hitting 60 if he has the same pace or better. He won’t see any power play time on a fully healthy Toronto Maple Leafs team unless they want to try him there and take someone off of it like a Kerfoot or Hyman, so the only special teams he plays on is the penalty kill and that isn’t even the reason for his point production. He’s an excellent 5v5 player, that kind of plays a similar role as Zach Hyman, chipping the puck deep and heavy on the forecheck.

If Mikheyev is put in the top six next season playing alongside either Matthews/Nylander, Matthews/Marner, Tavares/Nylander, or even Tavares/Marner he’ll continue where he left off from this past season, that’s for sure. (Stats from NHL.com)

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