Canucks winger Ilya Mikheyev to have season-ending knee surgery

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks shut down Ilya Mikheyev for the season, months after the right winger suffered a serious knee injury.

General manager Patrik Allvin announced on Friday that the 28-year-old forward will have surgery next week for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He said Mikheyev picked up the injury in the team’s first preseason game on September 25.

“Thanks to Ilya,” Allvin said. “(He has) essentially played on one knee and our medical staff (have) prepared him for all games up to this point. I think that shows a lot about Ilya’s character and his desire to play here for the Vancouver Canucks.”

Originally listed as a week-to-week, Mikheyev missed the team’s first three regular-season games, then completed 45 games and accumulated 13 goals and 15 assists.

He scored in a Canucks 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in his last appearance on Friday. The goal marked his 100th NHL point (49 goals, 51 assists).

Mikheyev was in tears as he spoke to reporters on Friday night.

“Difficult moment,” he said.

Mikheyev described the injury as an “almost complete” tear. Medical staff taped the knee and he played with a brace, but the athlete admitted that his speed has suffered this season.

“It’s not about pain. It’s more about power,” he said.

Mikheyev has been a big part of the Canucks lineup this season, said Elias Pettersson, who has often centered a line with Mikheyev and left wing Andrei Kuzmenko.

“It sucks,” Pettersson said. “He works hard and obviously he’s been great for us since he came here. It’s very unfortunate, but I think you have to think about the future and be ready.”

A native of Omsk, Russia, Mikheyev signed a four-year, $19 million deal as a free agent with Vancouver last summer. He previously played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons.

Allvin said the 1.80m tall, 192lb forward wanted to continue playing despite the injury.

“Our medical staff did an excellent job here in preparing him and we felt that at this point that will be in the timeline to start training again,” the GM said.

“It had to be operated on. You’re basically playing on one knee here and that speaks a lot to his pain tolerance and what he’s willing to do.”

Allvin added that he expects Mikheyev to be ready for the training camp next fall.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on January 27, 2023.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press