The Chicago Blackhawks want to re-sign forward Ilya Mikheyev. There’s no mistaking that: Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said it at the trade deadline. He said it again after the Blackhawks’ season. That remains the case today.Mikheyev, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has also said he’s open to re-signing with the Blackhawks. He’s enjoyed his time on and off the ice with them over two seasons.“Why not?” Mikheyev said on April 16. “I like Chicago. I like the city. I love playing for the Blackhawks.”So, what’s stopping the Blackhawks and Mikheyev from agreeing to a new contract? Like all contract negotiations, it comes down to money and term. The Blackhawks offered Mikheyev a new contract at the deadline. It was believed to be in the two- to three-year range with a cap hit in the vicinity of his current one, which is at $4.75 million. The Blackhawks had him at $4,037,500 cap hit because the Vancouver Canucks retained some of it.Mikheyev declined the contract offer around the trade deadline, wasn’t traded and still has an offer on the table from the Blackhawks. With Mikheyev turning 32 in October and the NHL salary cap increasing, you can’t blame him for holding out for more and potentially seeing what’s available to him on the open market. This could be his final NHL contract and last chance to get really paid.Davidson understands that, too. It’s why he has given Mikheyev and his agent permission to see what other teams would be willing to offer if Mikheyev hit the open market. If someone offers more years and/or more money than the Blackhawks, Davidson can choose to increase his offer or walk away. There’s also the chance Mikheyev doesn’t receive anything better.