Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev surprising MIP candidates
A year ago, Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev were frustrating to watch for Maple Leafs fans but they have both improved significantly this season to the point were they're consistent performers in the lineup and candidates for Toronto's most improved player.
Video Transcript
- If I were to hang out like a quick award, I would definitely give most improved player to Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev. I mean, just think about how we talked about them like a year ago. Like Mikheyev would go on a breakaway shorthanded and not score. Pierre Engvall would just make these ridiculous decisions and just look like a liability in the lineup. But like both players have not only made a role from themselves on the team, but they're excelling in every way possible. I mean, sometimes I completely forget that Pierre Engvall was a seventh round pick.
Like do you remember that? Like 2014, seventh round pick, you know, he went through his journey developing and growing in the Marlies. And again, was a little up and down, and now he's a literally every day NHL player on this team. Ilya Mikheyev has finally found a way to combine his fast feet with his hands and he's becoming an offensive threat off the rush. So it's like these two players, the fact that they've turned it around so quickly I mean, I don't know. Maybe it speaks to them themselves, but I think also speaks to that special nature that this Leafs roster has right now.
