Tough Breaks – Canucks Ilya Mikheyev’s Injury Prone Past

The prognosis will be learned shortly on Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev’s injury from Sunday evening at Rogers Arena. Regardless of the severity, it could be another tough break for a guy who’s had a few of them, no pun intended.

This was the hit last night captured on Sportsnet.

A look at the hit in the corner on Ilya Mikheyev that sent him to the locker room right after. The #Canucks have announced Mikheyev won't return tonight. pic.twitter.com/NfE38D6AwX

— Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) September 26, 2022

Last preseason he broke a thumb in a game on October 9th on a cross-check from Ottawa Senators AHLer Dillon Heatherington. Mikheyev had surgery and was out nine weeks.

“It’s a big loss for us, a tough break for Ilya, he was having an excellent camp for us and was poised to have a big season,” Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe said at the time. “He was back here in the gym with the guys training and doing what he can to stay ready, so we’ll obviously be here for him when he’s ready to come back.”

One week after he returned on December 14th he entered Covid protocols and was out until December 30th.

After that point he produced 21 goals and a total of 32 points over 53 games, thus the excitement and the four-year, $4.75-million per season deal from the Canucks.

The speedy 27-year-old winger should be in his prime if only he could consistently stay in the line-up.

His biggest setback came his rookie year in the NHL with the Maple Leafs after coming over from Avangard Omsk after four seasons in the Russian KHL. In a game on December 27th, 2019, he suffered a scary injury when Jesper Bratt’s skate blade cut Mikheyev’s wrist in the third period.

He had surgery and was on injured reserve until the following summer. Mikheyev was able to skate in the interim, working with skating instructor Barb Underhill as early as mid-February of 2020.

Although he fell hard on his arm and wrist on Sunday evening, the issue isn’t obvious, it could have been any number of body parts. The Canucks will let us know shortly if it’s minor.

As it relates to his tough luck history, hopefully it’s not more of the same.