According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Ilya Mikheyev requested a trade at the end of the 2020-21 season.
The reason behind this apparent trade request by Mikheyev is that he was unhappy with the playing time the Toronto Maple Leafs gave him. He averaged just over 14 minutes last season.
Before his wrist injury during the 2019-20 season, Mikheyev had an average ice time of 15:35. So comparing last season with his first season, he didn’t lose a ton of ice time.
Just like any other player, if you produce, you will be awarded more playing time. Mikheyev’s biggest downfall last season was his inability to score. He finished the season with a 6.5% shooting percentage. He scored just seven goals on 107 shots.
Toronto Maple Leafs Response To trade Request
According to Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs did not accommodate this trade request because they were already losing Zach Hyman and Joe Thornton from the left wing position.
Management told Mikheyev that they consider him a key part of their team and are counting on him to have a big year. He will need to have a great training camp and earn some playing time in the top six.
If Mikheyev fails to crack the top six, he will have to adapt his playing style and get used to playing 13 to 14 minutes a game. He needs to use his speed to his advantage and create better scoring chances for himself.
Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade Mikheyev If He Struggles
As mentioned before, the Toronto Maple Leafs did not accept Mikheyev’s trade request due to a lack of depth at the left-wing position. However, the team currently has five other forwards who can play left wing.
At training camp, Mikheyev will need to outplay one or more of Nick Ritchie, Michael Bunting, Alexander Kerfoot, and Pierre Engvall. If David Kampf becomes Toronto’s third-line center, Kerfoot will move to left-wing.
If Mikheyev falls behind, then I think Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas should trade him. Toronto currently has no draft picks in rounds three, four, five, and six in the 2022 NHL draft. Dubas could trade Mikheyev for a draft pick in one of those later rounds.
Ever since Mikheyev joined the team, I have enjoyed the way he plays. Unfortunately, he has been unable to score more often with all his chances. The lack of offensive production is his biggest fault so far in his NHL career.
I would love to see Mikheyev become a 15 to 20 goal scorer, but by the time he figures out how to become one, he will likely not be a Toronto Maple Leafs player anymore. Training camp is just a few weeks away, so we will find out soon whether or not Mikheyev has what it takes to stay in Toronto.