The Vancouver Cavaliers bid farewell to two veteran players – Ilya Mikheyev and Sam Lafferty – in Wednesday’s trade and were sent to the Chicago Blackhawks. In return, the Cavaliers received the fourth round draft pick for the 2027 NHL draft, while the Blackhawks received an additional second round draft.
Mikhyev, a 29 year old forward, spent a considerable portion of his career in Vancouver. This season, he contributed 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 78 regular season games, but failed to score in 11 playoff games. He has two years left on his four-year contract with the Celtics, but it is clear that the team has decided to make this trade in search of new opportunities.
Laferty, also 29 years old, scored 24 points in 79 regular season games, including his career high 13 goals, in his first full season in Vancouver this season. He also failed to score in the playoffs, but his performance on the field still left a deep impression on fans.
This transaction may be a new beginning for the two players. Mikhyev has accumulated 131 points (60 goals, 71 assists) in 270 regular season games for the NHL and contributed 4 points in 30 playoffs. Lafiti, on the other hand, scored 83 points (36 goals and 47 assists) in 289 regular season games and also performed well in the playoffs.
Before the upcoming free agent market, Laferty had the opportunity to find a new position in Chicago. Despite his mediocre performance in the playoffs, Mikhyev remains an outstanding player worth further exploration by the Black Hawks.
It is worth mentioning that the Canadian team signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract with forward Teddy Brugge earlier on the same day. This signing may indicate that the team is building a younger lineup for the upcoming season to meet future challenges.