Key member of the Canucks forward group leaving the team on day one of training camp

NHL training camps have officially opened up this week, which means that the return of hockey is on the immediate horizon, with pre-season games commencing this weekend. Unfortunately, Mikheyev won't be a participant for the Canucks.

Mikheyev arrived for camp not yet fully recovered from a knee surgery that he had undergone earlier this year. The hope was that he would be ready for contact in the coming days. However, the Canucks have announced that Mikheyev will be leaving training camp for "personal reasons".

The former Leaf signed a 4-year contract with the Canucks last summer worth a staggering $4.75M per season. An excellent penalty killer and a defensively adept winger, Mikheyev's bid to put last season behind him and prepare for a new and hopefully more productive season will have to wait just a little bit longer.