Vancouver Canucks Ilya Mikheyev leaves training camp for personal reasons

It was reported Thursday by Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin following the opening day of training camp that forward Ilya Mikheyev has left camp for personal reasons.

Mikheyev notched 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 46 games during the 2022-23 campaign with the Canucks. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery in February. He was ruled out for the season in January due to a torn ACL he had suffered during the pre-season in September.

Back in January, Mikheyev took to Twitter to address the situation, “Twice per week, we consulted with team doctors about how things were progressing,” he said. “Never did I feel pressure, never did I feel worse. It was my decision. Finally, it reached a point where I wanted to be ready on time for next year. If I continued to play, I wouldn’t be ready for training camp. I appreciate everyone’s concern, but I have no complaints with the way this was handled.”

Last summer, he signed a four-year, $19 million contract with the Canucks, which has an average annual value of $4,750,000 million. Mikheyev is entering the second year of the contract.

Mikheyev spent the first three seasons of his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs after having a successful couple of seasons in the KHL. The Omsk, Russia product tallied 23 points in 39 games during his rookie campaign before the season was shut down due to the covid-19 pandemic. He appeared in 146 games and tallied 36 goals and 36 assists for 72 points in that frame with Toronto.

The Canucks open up pre-season this weekend with a game against the Calgary Flames on Sunday. They open up the 2023-24 regular season on Oct. 11 against the Edmonton Oilers.