Ilya Mikheyev facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ilya Mikheyev
Mikheyev with the Vancouver Canucks in 2023
Born	(1994-10-10) 10 October 1994 (age 30) Omsk, Russia
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Chicago Blackhawks Avangard Omsk Toronto Maple Leafs Vancouver Canucks
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2012–present

Ilya Andreyevich Mikheyev was born on October 10, 1994, in Russia. He is a professional ice hockey player. He plays as a right winger for the Chicago Blackhawks. This team is part of the National Hockey League (NHL). Before joining the Blackhawks, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks in the NHL. He also played for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Early Life and Education

Ilya Mikheyev grew up in Omsk, Russia. Omsk is a city in southwestern Siberia. His parents are Andrey and Natalya. Andrey is a lawyer and also teaches at a law school. Natalya works as a director in a private company. Ilya studied sports tourism in college. He also earned a master's degree in sports science.

Playing Career Highlights

Ilya Mikheyev has played ice hockey for many years. He started his career in Russia. Later, he moved to North America to play in the NHL.

Starting in Russia

Mikheyev began his hockey journey at the Avangard Omsk school. In 2012, he joined the youth team, Omskie Yastreby. They played in the MHL. In 2013, he helped Omskie Yastreby win the Kharlamov Cup. He was one of the top scorers in the league that year.

He then played for other teams in the VHL. These teams were Yermak Angarsk, Sokol Krasnoyarsk, and Saryarka Karagandy. In the 2015–16 season, he started playing for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He quickly became an important player for the team. In the 2017–18 season, he was Avangard's top scorer with 38 points.

During the 2018–19 season, Mikheyev scored 45 points. This made him the top scorer for his club again. He helped Avangard reach the Gagarin Cup finals. He scored 11 points in 13 playoff games. He was also named a KHL First Team All-Star.

Playing in North America

On May 6, 2019, Mikheyev signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was his first step into the National Hockey League (NHL). On October 2, 2019, he scored his first NHL goal. He also got an assist in a game against the Ottawa Senators. After this game, he mentioned that he liked soup. This led to a partnership with the Campbell Soup Company.

Dealing with Injuries

On December 27, 2019, Mikheyev suffered a serious injury. A player's skate blade cut his wrist during a game. He had surgery right away to fix an artery and tendons. The Maple Leafs' general manager and trainer stayed with him. This helped him feel comfortable during his recovery. He missed the rest of the regular season. However, he returned for the playoffs.

On October 20, 2020, Mikheyev signed a new contract with the Maple Leafs. He even agreed to a lower salary. This helped the team stay within the league's salary rules. During the 2020–21 season, he often played on the team's third line. His job was to check opponents and prevent goals. He did not score any points in the playoffs that year. After the season, he asked for a trade. He wanted more playing time. However, the team did not trade him.

In his last season with the Maple Leafs, he played very well. He scored 21 goals and 32 points in 53 games. These were his best numbers yet. He also scored two goals and four points in the playoffs.

Moving to New Teams

On July 13, 2022, Mikheyev joined the Vancouver Canucks. He signed a four-year contract with them. In his first practice game with the Canucks, he tore a ligament in his knee. This injury is called an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. He missed the rest of the practice games. He made his official debut on October 18. After playing 43 games, the Canucks decided he needed surgery. He had surgery in January 2023 to fix his knee. He scored 13 goals and 28 points before his season ended. He missed the rest of the 2022–23 season.

During the 2023–24 season, Mikheyev played in 78 games. He scored 11 goals and 31 points. On June 26, 2024, the Canucks traded Mikheyev to the Chicago Blackhawks. He was traded along with another player and a draft pick.

International Play

Ilya Mikheyev has also played for his country. In 2017, he played for Team Russia in the Deutschland Cup. He then made his full international debut. This was at the 2018 World Championships in Denmark.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International