Canucks nearly Added Third Team in Mikheyev Trade to Navigate Cap Challenges

In an effort to manage their salary cap more effectively. This move, still in the negotiation stages, could reshape conventional trade practices in the league.

The initial reports indicated that Mikheyev was on his way out of Vancouver as part of a strategy to alleviate salary cap pressures. Interestingly, when this trade buzz began, Mikheyev had not been approached to waive his no-trade clause, a critical step given his reluctance to move to the Chicago Blackhawks, the initially proposed destination.

According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, the addition of a third team could offer Mikheyev more options, allowing him to choose his next team, an unprecedented move in NHL trades. Mikheyev's contract includes a 12-team no-trade clause, which reportedly lists the Blackhawks, suggesting a third team's involvement might redirect him to a more preferred team.

As the details continue to be ironed out, the Canucks stand to lose a second-round draft pick and the rights to Sam Lafferty in their bid to offload Mikheyev's contract.

This scenario echoes rare occurrences in the NHL where teams navigate around a player's no-move clause without direct consent, a tactic that, if mishandled, could lead to NHL penalties such as the draft pick forfeiture experienced by Ottawa in the Evgeni Dadonov trade scenario.

The complexity and rarity of such a three-team agreement have fans and analysts on edge, awaiting the final structure of the deal. If completed without requiring Mikheyev to waive his clause, it would mark a significant precedent in trade negotiations, reflecting the evolving strategies teams employ to manage player contracts and salary caps.

This developing story promises to bring significant updates in the coming hours, as the Canucks work diligently to finalize the terms of this intricate trade.

Source: Chris Johnston