The Toronto Maple Leafs were very smart when they identified Ilya Mikheyev as a potential NHL player, and even smarter when they refused to trade him last year when he asked for it.
But now the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to be even smarter and let Mikheyev walk as a free-agent, even though signing him will be very tempting.
With 21 goals in 53 games, many of them shorthanded, Mikheyev established himself as a weapon lower in the Leafs lineup.
Unfortunately, based on his age, previous production, and his time spend higher in the lineup, I do not believe investing in him at this time would be smart.