Nothing wrong with having your own opinion about the game and we love you even more for it brother. Having all those veterans locked to contracts like we do does make it complicated to keep Mikeyev around over a prospect we absolutely need to asses, but If your keeping someone, he is the one worth keeping. Van was paying Mik to be a top/middle six scorer, he will not play that role with us and is a complete team player who will play anywhere And who can drive his own line and is a giant part of why our Pk is #1 and tbh is a big part of our team defense that will be felt when hes gone.. i dont think any prospect is stepping in and doing what he is doing, not even close. All in all we have to see what our prospects are and that takes precedent over Mik. Sucks he would have to go but that is reality.
They should trade everyone they can , we are still rebuilding and need to get rid of the old and bring in the new , it’s obvious that when the rookies come up they are better than the veterans . Right now we have 6 picks in the first 70 in next draft and we are a deeply talented with 7 to 8 ready for the big club next year and a pipeline for the next 5 years . Rockford is going to be fantastic in the near future
We are so close to being in the playoffs and realistically believe next year is the year we make it , competing next year we are in better shape with Mikeyev. Him helping Usher in Kantserov is another positive. Without Dicky, Murph, Foligno, and Gryzelcyk I wouldn’t mind keeping him for another year or two at less than the 4 million he’s making now.
I see the argument to trade him but at the same time he is a huge part of the team this year and is one of the main reasons the pk is the best itl rn. Depends on what we can get for him but for now I’d keep him
Counterpoints: – if you take a big swing trade in the off-season, you might actually need the depth of ilya and the skills he provides. – theres a human factor: it might be beneficial to have defensively responsible Russian veteran winger to have around for kantzerovs 1st years here. – our pk is our biggest strength, if you want to actually compete for a playoff spot next year, why mess with our biggest strength – how badly does this team need another second and fourth round draft pick? If anything, we can afford to lose one especially if we're already going to be gaining more from trading Murphy and Dickinson – training tuevo won't actually be that hard, even if it's for a needed vet 7th defenseman – we can cut burakovsky in the offseason, it won't hurt our cap situation. Also you need someone to be the 13th or 14th foward.
One year, 5-5.5 mil contract. You can retain half if you really want to move him sometime in the middle of the season. 2 years ~4 mil. Same thing, can retain if you need to. Anyone would want him at 2 mil if someone outplays and steals a roster spot. Better to compete than hand rookie starting roles.
I wish mikheyev and burakovsky's contract lengths were swapped Edit: I'd rather lose material trading burakovsky whose role can/will be filled by lardis frondell kantserov, rather than gain material on the sole possessor of the best NHL penalty killer, I would love to see him on a one year extension, burky has proved he is not built for a bottom 6 role, mikky can, mikky for 5-6m for 1 year, I'm rambling, let me collect my thoughts for a second
I think keeping Ilya around would be good because not only is he a great player, but he could be a great mentor for Kantserov when he gets here next season.
Having a top-rated PK takes the pressure off youthful mistakes and inconsistent play. Losing Miki adds stress to those areas, and I'm not sure it is being addressed as part of the trade argument. There's also the soon-to-be tipping point issue of having more prospects than we can sign/are willing to sign. Domenic James was the first of what will inevitably be several prospects that don't sign. Resign Miki for two years at a slight overpay. I think he'll be a good mentor and linemate to Spellacy.
There are more than two spots open next season. I’m sending Colton Dach down to the AHL. Hitting can’t be all you offer as a forward, even down the lineup. I’m also putting Slaggert in the press box, same issue but with forechecking as all he offers. There’s now four roster spots open on the roster if Dickinson and Foligno leave. That means Kantserov, Frondell and Lardis all have spots now. I’m not sure Spellacy is NHL ready day one.
They should be talking to Ottawa about Mikheyev. That’s one of the worst penalty kill teams in the league. The definitely have room for him on a third line. Not sure what the Hawks would want but the Sens really need a guy like this.
IMO, Reichel leapfrogged by Lardis. Slaggert or Dach will also be leapfrogged by a prospect like Spellacy. And 2/3 years down road they cycle will continue. The hope is Frondell will leapfrog a vet like Burakovsky. Rinzel over Jones. Lev over Murphy. Greene over Dickenson. Moore over Mikeyev Lardis over Donato. The real rebuild is having drafted prospects take Top 9 and Top 4 positions at NHL level. So far IMO, the Blackhawks have managed 2 Top 9, 2 Top 4 D, and a Top Goalie. Reichel unfortunately didnt show enough and was recycled. Its gonna happen again, and again. Future is bright with the ton of “replacements” we have on the way in near future. Not all will stick, which is why we still NEED some vets and a couple top All-Star type FA. But some prospects will. But not all in one year. Good luck to Frondell and Kantserov. Those two have the best chance in 2026 / 2027. Keep rebuild mode on. Commit to the Indian..
I'd resign Mikheyev for 2 years. The AAV doesn't matter. Give him 5mil per, who cares? He is 31. You cannot ice an entire team of 24 and under players. You need a couple veterans in the room and on the ice. Also, outside of Frondell and Kantserov, I don't expect any other prospect to start game 1 next year on the Blackhawks. All those other prospects you mentioned have to start in the AHL.
imo, we need to trade burakovsky first before even considering trading mikheyev. I’d say sign him for 1-2 years max, and then package him up with one young guy
27 Comments
Nothing wrong with having your own opinion about the game and we love you even more for it brother. Having all those veterans locked to contracts like we do does make it complicated to keep Mikeyev around over a prospect we absolutely need to asses, but If your keeping someone, he is the one worth keeping. Van was paying Mik to be a top/middle six scorer, he will not play that role with us and is a complete team player who will play anywhere And who can drive his own line and is a giant part of why our Pk is #1 and tbh is a big part of our team defense that will be felt when hes gone.. i dont think any prospect is stepping in and doing what he is doing, not even close.
All in all we have to see what our prospects are and that takes precedent over Mik. Sucks he would have to go but that is reality.
They should trade everyone they can , we are still rebuilding and need to get rid of the old and bring in the new , it’s obvious that when the rookies come up they are better than the veterans . Right now we have 6 picks in the first 70 in next draft and we are a deeply talented with 7 to 8 ready for the big club next year and a pipeline for the next 5 years . Rockford is going to be fantastic in the near future
You kill me 😂😂😂
No. We have the best PK in the league, you don’t mess with that. A third line of him and Moore for the future would be so perfect
We are so close to being in the playoffs and realistically believe next year is the year we make it , competing next year we are in better shape with Mikeyev. Him helping Usher in Kantserov is another positive.
Without Dicky, Murph, Foligno, and Gryzelcyk I wouldn’t mind keeping him for another year or two at less than the 4 million he’s making now.
Ship Murphy O U T
I see the argument to trade him but at the same time he is a huge part of the team this year and is one of the main reasons the pk is the best itl rn. Depends on what we can get for him but for now I’d keep him
Counterpoints:
– if you take a big swing trade in the off-season, you might actually need the depth of ilya and the skills he provides.
– theres a human factor: it might be beneficial to have defensively responsible Russian veteran winger to have around for kantzerovs 1st years here.
– our pk is our biggest strength, if you want to actually compete for a playoff spot next year, why mess with our biggest strength
– how badly does this team need another second and fourth round draft pick? If anything, we can afford to lose one especially if we're already going to be gaining more from trading Murphy and Dickinson
– training tuevo won't actually be that hard, even if it's for a needed vet 7th defenseman
– we can cut burakovsky in the offseason, it won't hurt our cap situation. Also you need someone to be the 13th or 14th foward.
One year, 5-5.5 mil contract. You can retain half if you really want to move him sometime in the middle of the season. 2 years ~4 mil. Same thing, can retain if you need to. Anyone would want him at 2 mil if someone outplays and steals a roster spot. Better to compete than hand rookie starting roles.
I wish mikheyev and burakovsky's contract lengths were swapped
Edit: I'd rather lose material trading burakovsky whose role can/will be filled by lardis frondell kantserov, rather than gain material on the sole possessor of the best NHL penalty killer, I would love to see him on a one year extension, burky has proved he is not built for a bottom 6 role, mikky can, mikky for 5-6m for 1 year, I'm rambling, let me collect my thoughts for a second
Nucks legend 🙏
No
KEEP HIM!!!
If last year the Hawks had a strong case for keeping Donato, they have an ever stronger case of keeping Ilya this year.
I think keeping Ilya around would be good because not only is he a great player, but he could be a great mentor for Kantserov when he gets here next season.
Having a top-rated PK takes the pressure off youthful mistakes and inconsistent play. Losing Miki adds stress to those areas, and I'm not sure it is being addressed as part of the trade argument. There's also the soon-to-be tipping point issue of having more prospects than we can sign/are willing to sign. Domenic James was the first of what will inevitably be several prospects that don't sign. Resign Miki for two years at a slight overpay. I think he'll be a good mentor and linemate to Spellacy.
There are more than two spots open next season. I’m sending Colton Dach down to the AHL. Hitting can’t be all you offer as a forward, even down the lineup. I’m also putting Slaggert in the press box, same issue but with forechecking as all he offers. There’s now four roster spots open on the roster if Dickinson and Foligno leave. That means Kantserov, Frondell and Lardis all have spots now. I’m not sure Spellacy is NHL ready day one.
I’m with Lee. We’re rebuilding. He’s 32. If a 24 year old DeBrincat is too “old” for a rebuilding team, then certainly a 32 year old is as well.
He served us well, but he was a placeholder and a luxury in the bottom 6.
They should be talking to Ottawa about Mikheyev. That’s one of the worst penalty kill teams in the league. The definitely have room for him on a third line. Not sure what the Hawks would want but the Sens really need a guy like this.
IMO, Reichel leapfrogged by Lardis. Slaggert or Dach will also be leapfrogged by a prospect like Spellacy. And 2/3 years down road they cycle will continue. The hope is Frondell will leapfrog a vet like Burakovsky. Rinzel over Jones. Lev over Murphy. Greene over Dickenson. Moore over Mikeyev Lardis over Donato. The real rebuild is having drafted prospects take Top 9 and Top 4 positions at NHL level. So far IMO, the Blackhawks have managed 2 Top 9, 2 Top 4 D, and a Top Goalie. Reichel unfortunately didnt show enough and was recycled. Its gonna happen again, and again. Future is bright with the ton of “replacements” we have on the way in near future. Not all will stick, which is why we still NEED some vets and a couple top All-Star type FA. But some prospects will. But not all in one year. Good luck to Frondell and Kantserov. Those two have the best chance in 2026 / 2027. Keep rebuild mode on.
Commit to the Indian..
I'd resign Mikheyev for 2 years. The AAV doesn't matter. Give him 5mil per, who cares? He is 31. You cannot ice an entire team of 24 and under players. You need a couple veterans in the room and on the ice. Also, outside of Frondell and Kantserov, I don't expect any other prospect to start game 1 next year on the Blackhawks. All those other prospects you mentioned have to start in the AHL.
Looking at the Montreal Canadiens center depth makes me laugh.
They shouldn’t trade Mikheyev but IF they did they should tell him to keep his apartment in Chicago and resign him in the offseason 2 x 5-5.5.
Bedard
Nazar
Tuevo
Bertucci
Donato
Mikheyev
Greene
Dach
Moore
Lardis
Frondell
Kantserov
Sit Burakovsky. Bottom four on the list can serve time in Rockford if needed.
YES, Mikheyev’s value will not be higher than it is now
imo, we need to trade burakovsky first before even considering trading mikheyev. I’d say sign him for 1-2 years max, and then package him up with one young guy
Hell no. He's the main reason why the penalty kill has been so good.
Top 5 LG video of all time
What’s with the slam on Crowder?
Next video, why didn’t the Blackhawks management force rainbows tape on the sticks. 😂