New Leafs player Mikheyev winning over fans with his love of soup
With a goal and an assist in his first NHL game, Ilya Mikheyev is off to a flying start with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ilya Mikheyev! What a play by Barrie. 5-2 Leafs. pic.twitter.com/AQnRmpfPxA
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) October 3, 2019
But the 24-year-old Russian, who made the move to North America from the KHL this offseason, is winning over fans for a different reason.
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The man loves soup, and he doesn’t care who knows it.
In fact, he doesn’t understand why you don’t love soup as much as he does. Speaking with reporters after the Leafs’ 5-3 season opener over the Ottawa Senators, Mikheyev dropped this hilarious comment, transcribed by TSN’s Kristen Shilton:
Ilya Mikheyev bravely faced the Toronto media post-game, in English. Did a great job.
Talked about the adjustments to being in Canada now: “I like soup. I don’t know why you don’t eat soup. My girlfriend cooks for me, so I’m very happy.”
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 3, 2019
Able to converse in English, but still learning the finer points of the language, Mikheyev says he’s learning with the help of Google Translate and by watching Netflix.
He says his favourite show to watch is Friends, which is somehow the perfect answer.
I am a proud member of the Ilya Mikheyev fan club pic.twitter.com/OU9qUCKsXy
— Leafs ALL Day (@LeafsAllDayy) October 3, 2019
Those quotes went viral, which sprung his opportunistic agent Dan Milstein into action with a pair of hilarious tweets:
Meet Toronto’s new Souperman! Which companies want to bring soup to Canada? #WhoIsWithGoldStar? pic.twitter.com/o545iCqHw9
— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) October 3, 2019
Soup Companies, let’s talk ☎️! Souperman “I like Soup. I don’t know why you don’t eat soup!” #ShowMeTheMoney? #tmltalk pic.twitter.com/RdzNgKTFIo
— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) October 3, 2019
Leafs fans can’t get enough of their new soup-loving winger, as the following proves:
There are only two types of people in this world.
Those who like soup, and those who don't.Ilya Mikheyev likes soup.
I like soup.Soupman Gets Paid!#TMLtalk#LeafsForever
— Michael McDonald (@MikeAMcD) October 3, 2019
Can't wait til Ilya Mikheyev eats soup out of the Stanley Cup
— Eamon McWaivers (@DerrickOnSports) October 4, 2019
Felt inspired by Ilya Mikheyev pic.twitter.com/Nq8jkJDuT0
— Paul Ross (@RealPaulRoss) October 4, 2019
Thinking about tweeting pictures of soup every time Mikheyev scores and honestly it’s a flawless idea
— Soup Guy (@LeBronMaclean) October 3, 2019
When Ilya Mikheyev sees A Cup a Soup pic.twitter.com/ffoHuzC82o
— spooky juno 👻 (@junotheleafs) October 3, 2019
Friendly reminder that long before Ilya Mikheyev we had Mats Sundin as our fearless soup ambassador pic.twitter.com/j44rBz0S0Z
— Casual Mats (@Casual_Mats) October 3, 2019
10/10 would buy soup if Ilya Mikheyev endorses it.
— GoLeafs93 (@mike60571395) October 3, 2019
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