The Toronto Maple Leafs have found themselves a new forward.
On Monday, general manager Kyle Dubas signed Russian Ilya Mikheyev to a one-year-entry level deal. Per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the contract is worth $832k plus $92,500.
Undrafted in 2012, Mikheyev joined the KHL full-time in the 2015-16 season and developed into a solid scorer over four campaigns. The Omsk native registered 23 goals and 22 assists in 62 games this year for his hometown Omsk Avangard before agreeing to head to North America. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported last week that “a majority of the NHL’s 31 teams had been showing interest in Mikheyev, but it was one of his opponents in Russia who reportedly helped convince him to play in Toronto.
The Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran revealed after the signing that it was Babcock’s old player in Detroit, Pavel Datsyuk, who had a hand in convincing Mikheyev to play for Babcock.
Datsyuk, of course, played under Babcock for the Red Wings from 2005-2015, winning a Stanley Cup, four Lady Byngs and and three Selke awards under his tenure. He had this to say about Babcock in a 2017 interview with Sports-Express’ Igor Eronko:
The following is an excerpt from Sprots-Express.com:
He invested a lot in me. Most still drew attention to the protection. Made more defensive striker. Especially towards the end of a career. And so - each coach added something of his own. Bowman - on the contrary, allowed to play and improvise. Even to such a young guy like me.
Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images
While Dastyuk was willing to vouch for Babcock, not all of his former players would do the same. Players such as Hall of fame defenceman Chris Chelios and the always outspoken Mike Commodore have publicly ripped Babcock to pieces.
Datsyuk announced last week that he will not be returning to the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg next season, so Leaf fans will have to give him a bit of a standing O if he makes his way back to Scotiabank Arena for a game next year.
(H/T Kevin McGran)
