Photo credit: Hockeypatrol
The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly nearing a trade to send forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Sam Laffery to the Chicago Blackhawks, and expected to include a second-round pick.
The move has been reported as in the works by Sportsnet Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman. A second round pick is also being sent as a “sweetener”.
An X, formerly Twitter, account known as @DontBeSaad20, appeared to be the first to hint at rumors of a potential deal involving Mikheyev and Lafferty.
Mikheyev, 29, has spent five seasons in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs. Mikheyev had 11 goals, 20 assists & 31 points in 78 games for Vancouver this season, but went scoreless in 11 games during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
UPDATE:
Ilya Mikheyev hasn’t formally agreed to waive his no-trade clause yet to go to #Blackhawks, but provided he does, teams have agreement in place on a trade:
To #Blackhawks: Ilya Mikheyev, 2nd Rd Pick, pending UFA Sam Lafferty
To #Canucks: 4th Rd Pick
Lafferty, 29, is also a former Maple Leaf, as well as having played for the Blackhawks prior between 2021-2023. Lafferty had 11 goals, 13 assists & 24 points in 79 games for the Canucks this season. Like Mikheyev, Lafferty went pointless in 11 playoff games.