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Toronto Maple Leafs: Ilya Mikheyev Injury Gives Team Flexibility

By Jeremy Ridgewell

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs were dealt a blow in their last pre-season game. Forward Ilya Mikheyev left the game with what appears to be a broken hand or wrist. The forward fell awkwardly onto his hand after getting hit.

Due to Thanksgiving on Sunday, a report on Mikheyev’s injury will not be available until Monday. The injury is expected to be long term according to Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. Without any further details about the injury, we can assume it will be either 4-6 weeks or 6-8 weeks depending on the severity.

This injury is a huge setback for Mikheyev who was looking to have a bounce back season after not being very productive last year. He was hoping to earn a spot on Toronto’s second line with John Tavares and William Nylander.

The injury could end up being a blessing in disguise for the  Leafs. If general manager Kyle Dubas places Mikheyev on Long Term Injury Reserve (LTIR), it will give the team a little more flexibility with their salary cap space.

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If the Maple Leafs do place Mikheyev on waivers, they will have $1.725 million in cap space to start the season. One would assume that the team would try to keep both Adam Brooks and Timothy Liljegren and start the season with a 22 man roster.

That however is not going to happen as Brooks was placed on waivers on Sunday. Of all the players that Toronto has recently placed on waivers, Brooks is the one most likely to be claimed. Toronto will be lucky if Brooks clears without getting claimed.

On Saturday, the Toronto Maple Leafs placed Kurtis Gabriel and Alex Biega on waivers. Both players cleared on Sunday and will report to the Toronto Marlies training camp. The Leafs still have Pierre Engvall, Michael Amadio and Liljegren with them ahead of the first game of the season on Wednesday.

With Mikheyev on LTIR, the Leafs will have the luxury of keeping both Engvall and Amadio and let the two of them compete for who will have the last forward spot on the team in Mikheyev’s absence.

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To start the season, the  Leafs will likely have Engvall and Amadio rotate in and out of the lineup until one of them clearly out performs the other.  The same could be happening with Travis Dermott, Rasmus Sandin, and Liljegren on defense.

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