![\"Ilya](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f7b4e5b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7695x5130+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2F21%2F2c656500410c9a05a79f5a48c399%2Fmikheyev.jpg\")
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia \u2014 Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson\u2019s additions to the team\u2019s NHL roster have been hit-or-miss up to this point, but players he specifically acquires from Canucks GM Patrik Allvin tend to hit.<\/p>\n
The fact the Hawks got a second-round pick from the Canucks for taking Jason Dickinson in 2022 is ridiculous in retrospect, considering Dickinson has become a semi-core player.<\/p>\n
And Davidson\u2019s trade for Ilya Mikheyev with the Canucks last summer \u2014 in which he received another second-round pick (and gave up a fourth) \u2014 looks pretty good, too.<\/p>\n
Mikheyev has been quietly solid for the Hawks this season, improving as the season has progressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he feels really good about where his game is right now,\u201d interim coach Anders Sorensen said Saturday. \u201cHis habits have been really good: he\u2019s competing [and] moving his feet a lot. He\u2019s in on the forecheck, but he\u2019s hanging onto pucks, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old forward has always been known more for his defensive acumen and speed, which was reduced by an ACL surgery two years ago in Vancouver but has gradually returned.<\/p>\n
Plus-minus is a flawed stat, but the fact he touts a plus-three rating on a team with a minus-51 total goal differential is remarkable.<\/p>\n
His offense has picked up, too, and he entered Saturday\u2019s game against his former team with three goals in his last four games. He\u2019s up to 15 goals this season, the second-most of his career. And 12 of those goals have come during five-on-five play, which ranks him second on the Hawks behind only Ryan Donato with 18.<\/p>\n
Mikheyev and Donato together, along with Teuvo Teravainen, have formed by far the Hawks\u2019 most effective and consistent line since the 4 Nations break.<\/p>\n
In Mikheyev\u2019s five-on-five ice time since then, the Hawks have outscored opponents 10-5 and outshot them 56-53. When he hasn\u2019t been on the ice, the Hawks have been decisively outscored 23-12 and outshot 229-152.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis effort is always there,\u201d Donato said. \u201cHe could fly. He\u2019s kind of a buzzsaw. He\u2019s very reliable, he\u2019s going to be on the right side of pucks and he\u2019s really easy to play with. … Any time he gets those chances in tight around the net, he\u2019s pretty heavy on his stick and can usually [convert] on those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sorensen has rewarded Mikheyev, who has one contract year remaining with a salary-cap hit just over $4 million, with some power-play ice time on this road trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe trust him,\u201d Sorensen said. \u201cWe utilize him a lot on the [penalty kill], obviously, but now he\u2019s earned that opportunity to play on the power play.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The fact Mikheyev touts a plus-three rating on a team with a minus-51 total goal differential is remarkable, and he’s up to 15 goals now, too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-blackhawks"],"yoast_head":"\n