Where things stand between Blackhawks, Ilya Mikheyev: Interest and pragmatism

Posted May 20, 2026 11:05 am

By Scott Powers

The Chicago Blackhawks want to re-sign forward Ilya Mikheyev. There’s no mistaking that: Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said it at the trade deadline. He said it again after the Blackhawks’ season. That remains the case today.

Mikheyev, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has also said he’s open to re-signing with the Blackhawks. He’s enjoyed his time on and off the ice with them over two seasons.

“Why not?” Mikheyev said on April 16. “I like Chicago. I like the city. I love playing for the Blackhawks.”

So, what’s stopping the Blackhawks and Mikheyev from agreeing to a new contract? Like all contract negotiations, it comes down to money and term. The Blackhawks offered Mikheyev a new contract at the deadline. It was believed to be in the two- to three-year range with a cap hit in the vicinity of his current one, which is at $4.75 million. The Blackhawks had him at $4,037,500 cap hit because the Vancouver Canucks retained some of it.

Mikheyev declined the contract offer around the trade deadline, wasn’t traded and still has an offer on the table from the Blackhawks. With Mikheyev turning 32 in October and the NHL salary cap increasing, you can’t blame him for holding out for more and potentially seeing what’s available to him on the open market. This could be his final NHL contract and last chance to get really paid.

Davidson understands that, too. It’s why he has given Mikheyev and his agent permission to see what other teams would be willing to offer if Mikheyev hit the open market. If someone offers more years and/or more money than the Blackhawks, Davidson can choose to increase his offer or walk away. There’s also the chance Mikheyev doesn’t receive anything better.

It is unlikely the Blackhawks would trade Mikheyev’s rights to another team before free agency. Mikheyev would just sign with that team when free agency begins.

Mikheyev’s agent, Dan Milstein, declined to comment on his client’s negotiations on Tuesday.

In AFP Analytics’ latest contract projections, which were published on Monday, Mikheyev was projected to receive a three-year contract with a $3,456,960 cap hit. Based on The Athletic’s analytics, Mikheyev has a $3.8 million market value over the next three seasons.

Mikheyev’s worth to the Blackhawks is multifold. They like his two-way game. He’s been one of the league’s best penalty killers. His even-strength defensive analytics weren’t nearly as good this past season, but that’s often been a strength to his game. He scored 20 goals in his first season in Chicago and nearly got there again last season despite a slow start. He can also play up and down the lineup. According to Evolving Hockey, he was seventh on the Blackhawks in goals above replacement.

Mikheyev finished the season playing on the wing alongside Anton Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi. In about 97 minutes of five-on-five ice time together, the line showed some promise, outscoring opponents 8-3. It could be a line Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill could return to if Mikheyev re-signs.

Blashill didn’t hold back his praise for Mikheyev late in the season.

“Winning hockey player,” Blashill said. “Wins pucks, really good on our penalty kill, really good two-way player. Gets a lot of chances. Probably he’d like to score more, we’d like him to score more on some of those, but overall I’d take Ilya Mikheyev on any team I’ve ever coached.”

The Blackhawks also think Mikheyev can help along Roman Kantserov, a fellow Russian who will be entering the NHL next season. Mikheyev was someone Artyom Levshunov, who is from Belarus, has been able to turn to in the last few seasons.

“ I just try to help these guys,” Mikheyev said. “But it’s the same way when I came in the league — a lot of guys helped me too because they understand. It’s like in kindergarten, I can take these guys by the hands and just, I try to just help. Doesn’t matter if it’s young guys or older guys, we just have communication between each other. But of course, when you come in the league, NHL, and first time in the U.S., you try to help.”

Levshunov certainly hoped Mikheyev would return: “I like him as a player, like him as a human … But it’s not my decision. It’s his decision and the organization.”

But that decision likely depends on July 1.