Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson sees upside in rangy, usually speedy Russian he got in trade with Vancouver. The deal included some contract “sweetener.”

New Blackhawks winger Ilya Mikhevev had 2023-24 numbers that resemble departed Chicago forward Taylor Raddysh’s.

The 29-year-old Russian scored only one goal over his last 50-regular season games last season and finished with 11 goals and 20 assists in 78 contests with the Vancouver Canucks. He went pointless in 11 playoff games.

Raddysh, who signed a one-year free agent contract with Washington, didn’t connect at all in his final 42 games, posting just seven assists. Raddysh finished with just five goals and nine assists following a 20-17-37 line in 2022-23.

But Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson sees upside in the oft-injured Mikheyev, and picked him up in a trade from Vancouver on June 26. The deal included the rights to free agent Sam Lafferty (signed with Buffalo) in exchange for a 2027 fourth round draft pick.

“We’ve liked him for quite some time,” Davidson said. “Then when he became available, and just the (tight salary cap) situation Vancouver was in, it made sense to pursue it and get a little bit of a sweetener to do so and at a lower cost than his original AAV, so it made a lot of sense.”  See following video.

Vancouver retained 15 percent of Mikheyev’s contract, which pays $4.75 million annually. He’s entering the third year of the four-year UFA pact he signed with Vancouver in 2022. The Canucks had billed the signing as a marque acquisition at the time.

Mikheyev’s agent is Dan Milstein, who also represents No. 2 overall draft pick Arytom Levshunov. Milstein really got the better of Canucks GM Patrik Allvin in negotiations two years ago, finishing one of the deals that put Vancouver into a tight salary cap bind.

Mikheyev’s NHL History

When healthy, Mikhevev is speedy and a dependable defensive player, despite his decline in scoring. He had topped out at 21 goals and 32 points in 53 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021-22, leading to the fat contract from the Canucks.

“It’s strength in the middle-6 of the lineup,” Davidson said, “and a very legitimate NHL player that we think has ability and opportunity to take another step with us next year.”

Mikheyev might find time on a retooled checking or shutdown line for Chicago next season as coach Luke Richardson sorts out all of the team’s new bodies. The team signed eight free agents on July 1.

Mikheyev has been hindered by injuries during his five seasons in the NHL,  eroding his game and consistency.

The forward had two wrist injuries in his first three years with Toronto.  Mikhevev suffered a serious cut requiring surgery in his 2019-20 rookie season, ending it after 39 games — and eight goals and 15 assists. In his third season — when he managed 21 goals — he didn’t start playing regularly until Jan. 1 because he broke his wrist in training camp.

Mikheyev suffered a left ACL tear early in his first training camp in Vancouver. Because of his damaged knee he wasn’t the explosive skater the Canucks had hoped for, but still scored 13 goals in 48 games before eventually requiring surgery to repair the ligament.

Mikheyev seemed to have lost some speed at the start of the 2023-24 season with the Canucks. It started to come back as the season progressed, but his scoring touch vanished.

“I truly believe Ilya Mikheyev will bounce back and be a good player for Chicago,” Allvin said. “He’s a great person and a good player. And he was extremely professional through all of this.”