Canucks Rumors: Ilya Mikheyev Trade Chatter Heating Up

The NHL Entry Draft is rapidly approaching, which means that soon we will see plenty of trades around the league. Because of this, the rumor mill is starting to heat up significantly, and more players are becoming clear trade candidates because of it.

Due to this, in his most recent trade targets board for Daily Faceoff, NHL insider Frank Seravalli listed Vancouver Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev as one of the NHL's most likely players to get moved this season.

Seravalli reported that the Canucks have been actively shopping Mikheyev since they have been knocked out of the playoffs and also tried to deal him before the deadline.

There is no question that the Canucks would benefit greatly by moving out Mikheyev's $4.75 million cap hit. They have an array of free agents like Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Dakota Joshua, and Filip Hronek who they likely want to keep around. As a result, getting Mikheyev's chunk of change of the books would help their chances on that front.

Mikheyev, 29, appeared in 78 regular-season games this season for the Canucks, where he had 11 goals to go along with 31 points. This postseason was a nightmare for the 6-foot-2 winger, as he failed to secure a single point in 11 playoff games.