Canucks lose big free agent signing according to coach Bruce Boudreau

According to Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau, forward Ilya Mikheyev will be out of the team's lineup for at least a week, likely longer due to a lower body injury.

Check it out:

Mikheyev, of course, was one of the team's key offseason additions, signing a four year deal worth $4.75 million per season on the opening day of free agency. The 27 year old Russian forward put up 21 goals and 32 points in just 53 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and cemented himself in the Leafs' top-nine forward group but with the Leafs facing a cap crunch and with Mikheyev seeking a raise on the $1.65 million annually he was earning it was clear that he wouldn't stick with the team long-term. The Canucks were quick to snap him up on the free agent market and seem intent on playing him alongside fellow Russian Canucks Andrei Kuzmenko and sophomore Vasili Podkolzin.

Kuzmenko was also a free agent signing who chose the Canucks over several other options. The KHL superstar signed a one year deal with the Canucks this past offseason after a stellar 20 goal and 53 point campaign in just 45 games with SKA St. Petersburg. If Mikheyev is the speedster on the line, then Kuzmenko is the trigger man. He's got a heavy shot and is a pretty versatile player in all three zones.

As for the third member of the all-Russian line, Podkolzin, he's perhaps the most intriguing of the group. Podkolzin was drafted 10th overall by the Canucks back in 2019 and showed some real flashes of brilliance last season. He managed 14 goals and 26 points in 79 games during his rookie campaign and really came to prominence under Boudreau. If you haven't seen Podkolzin play yet... he's an absolute bull dog. He hounds the puck, plays the body and is a coach's dream. He also has underrated puck skills, as well.

I mean... just look at this snipe for his first career NHL goal:

But, with zero Russian speaking players on the Canucks last season and with Podkolzin having a limited understanding of English, the team made it a clear priority to get him some countrymen on the roster for this season.