3 free agents who could replace Ilya Mikheyev

Forward Ilya Mikheyev is undecided if he would like to re-sign with the Chicago Blackhawks this summer. 

After the two most successful seasons of his career in the Windy City, the 31-year-old Russian is looking to cash in on his next contract. With just over $40 million to play with this summer, GM Kyle Davidson has more than enough money to re-sign Mikheyev, and he has made it no secret that he wants number 95 on the roster come October. 

However, the rising salary cap means that the Blackhawks are not the only team with ample cap space and a desire to sign Mikheyev. A weak free agent class has boosted Mikheyev’s value, and he may very well price himself out of Chicago on July 1st. 

With the addition of the KHL’s goal-scoring leader, Roman Kantserov, and potentially Ivar Stenberg joining the fray, the Blackhawks may not even need to replace Mikheyev’s production, and this discussion becomes a moot point. But Davidson has never been one to sit back and leave his roster untouched, so a Mikheyev replacement feels like a real possibility.

Here are three unrestricted free agents that could take Ilya Mikheyev’s place for the 2026-2027 season:

Viktor Arvidsson

The Blackhawks are familiar with Arvidsson after he spent the first seven years of his career with the Central Division rival Nashville Predators. Like Mikheyev, Arvidsson provides elite speed and tenacity, and he posted the third-best point total of his career this season with 54 points. 

Arvidsson won’t replace Mikheyev’s impact on the penalty kill, as he did not play shorthanded for Boston this year, but his past offensive production and current potential far exceed Mikheyev’s scoring capabilities. At 33, Arvidsson will demand more than his current $4 million cap hit, but the Blackhawks can offer him substantial money on a short-term deal. 

Kasperi Kapanen

A 2014 first-round pick, Kapanen’s career was on the ropes in late 2024 after he was placed on waivers twice in a 21-month span, but he has been an effective role player on a contending team in Edmonton ever since. The Finn’s statistical profile is more similar to Mikheyev’s than Arvidsson’s, but he has impressive top-end speed and killed penalties for Toronto early in his career. He impressed this postseason, too, pacing the Oilers in playoff goals with four in six games. 

Coming off a $1.3 million salary, Kapanen won’t break the bank on his next contract and will be a cheaper, younger replacement for Mikheyev. 

Bobby McMann

Out of these three players, McMann will seek the largest contract on the open market. The soon-to-be 30-year-old tallied a career-high 29 goals in a season split between Toronto and Seattle, boasts blazing speed, and plays a physical two-way game. 

The Colgate product could be a fascinating addition to Chicago’s lineup, but he does not provide value on the penalty kill and will be overpriced on a potentially six-year deal. Davidson likely does not want to block the path to the NHL of his numerous forward prospects, especially with a player who didn’t break into the league full-time until he was 27.

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