Ilya Mikheyev injured in first preseason game with Canucks
Ilya Mikheyev’s preseason debut with the Vancouver Canucks was a short one.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs forward, who signed a four-year, $19 million contract with the Canucks in free agency, left tonight’s preseason opener partway through the game after a heavy hit from Calgary Flames defenceman Nick DeSimone.
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
The Canucks later announced that Mikheyev, who scored 21 goals and 11 assists in 53 games last season, would not return to the game.
Vancouver Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev will not return to tonight's game.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 26, 2022
We’ll have to wait to hear about the severity of the 27-year-old Russian’s ailment, although injury updates are often closely-guarded secrets in the NHL.
Mikheyev had been put in a prominent role by Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau, playing on a line with Elias Pettersson and countryman Andrei Kuzmenko. Mikheyev was also brought to help the Canucks’ penalty kill.
The Canucks went on to lose the home game 3-2 in overtime, receiving goals from Vasily Podkolzin and Conor Garland.
Vancouver’s next preseason game is on Thursday at Rogers Arena, against the Seattle Kraken.
More to come…