The 2025-26 NHL campaign is officially a wrap, and the offseason is about to ramp up as teams look to improve their rosters in an attempt to unseat the newly crowned Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes.

And with the way the Edmonton Oilers have been hogging the hockey headlines lately, expect them to explore every possible avenue this offseason.

NHL free agency opens July 1st, and one pending unrestricted free agent the Oilers could have their eye on is forward Ilya Mikheyev. Hockey analyst Kevin Weekes recently posted on X that, per his sources, Mikheyev will be highly coveted by teams looking to improve their penalty kill and add speed to their lineup. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what the Russian winger could bring to the Oilers.

What could Mikheyev add to the Oilers’ lineup?

If the Oilers are looking to add speed to their lineup, look no further than Mikheyev.

The forward is one of the fastest skaters among upcoming unrestricted free agents and in the league overall. NHL EDGE data shows his top skating speed in 2025-26 reached 23.54 MPH (95th percentile), while his 194 bursts above 20 MPH ranked in the 94th percentile in the NHL.

He pairs that speed with decent hands and solid five-on-five production, posting a career-high 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 2025-26 with the Chicago Blackhawks, marking the third season in a row with 30-plus points. Fifteen of those goals came at five-on-five, which ranked third among all Blackhawks and would’ve been tied for fourth among the Oilers. Still, it’s worth noting that some who have followed Mikheyev’s career believe finishing has never been........

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