Blackhawks Acquire Mikheyev, Lafferty, Pick from Canucks

The Chicago Blackhawks and Kyle Davidson are getting busy prior to the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. In an effort to acquire talent while being able to absorb salaries from other teams, the Hawks have already made another move.

Per numerous reports , the Blackhawks are acquiring forward Ilya Mikheyev, the rights to unrestricted free agent forward Sam Lafferty, and a 2027 second-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The trade is entirely designed to create room for the Canucks as they look to get back to the postseason. Mikheyev had to waive his no-trade clause to get the deal done.

Mikeyev has two more years remaining on his deal at $4.75 million per season. With the withheld money, his cap hit will be roughly $4 million for the Hawks. The 29-year-old forward spent his first three NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs before signing a four-year deal in Vancouver prior to the 2022-23 season. This past season, Mikheyev accumulated 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 78 games for the Canucks.

The Russian winger scored a career-high 32 points in his final season with the Maple Leafs. However, with more opportunity in Chicago, those totals could improve.

As for Lafferty, the former Blackhawk was a superb penalty killer and bottom-six forward in Chicago. Acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2021-22, Lafferty blossomed with the Hawks. He earned another contract before being dealt to the Maple Leafs with Jake McCabe. Lafferty was then dealt to Vancouver before this trade that now brings him back to Chicago.

Lafferty posted 27 and 24 points in the last two seasons.

Both draft picks are of the 2027 variety. This is a no-brainer trade for Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks. That said, Davidson is far from done this summer.

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