Mikhnov spent four seasons in the Russian Super League and was considered a power forward prospect. Despite being from Ukraine, Mikhnov (unlike his brother) plays internationally for Russia.
After being drafted in 2000, Mikhnov was a mystery to Oilers fans. Even when he was drafted, he was considered an enigma.[2] When he first arrived in Edmonton in 2004, the Oilers' front office discovered that Mikhnov had poor eyesight, leading to the team buying him a pair of glasses.[3]
Mikhnov was one of the more famous players impacted by the inability of the National Hockey League and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation to agree on a transfer arrangement, a situation which more famously affected Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Evgeni Malkin. On June 20, 2006, according to his agent, Mikhnov gave his two weeks' notice which theoretically could get him out of his contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, and by early September, Mikhnov was skating in Edmonton, taking a spin on September 3 at the University of Alberta.[4] Legal action by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to retain Mikhnov was swiftly dismissed in court.[5] On September 5, 2006, Mikhnov signed a one-year deal with the Oilers.
On January 24th, 2007, Mikhnov was assigned back to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for the remainder of the season.[6] The Oilers gave him his qualifying offer to retain his rights, but never brought him over again.[7][8]
In April 2011, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl opted not to renew his contract after 7 seasons with the club.[9] In May 2011, Mikhnov signed a deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL.[10] In June 2012, despite extending his deal just a week prior, Metallurg released Mikhnov.[11]
In August, after a month on a tryout, Mikhnov signed a deal with HC Atlant.[12] In April 2013, Mikhnov extended his deal for a year.[13]
In May 2015, Mikhnov signed a one-year deal with HC Yugra of the KHL.[17] In November, he was waived and his contract was terminated by mutual agreement shortly thereafter.[18] The next day, Mikhnov returned to THK Tver of the VHL.[19] He remained there for two games before returning to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the KHL for the rest of the season.[20]
Mikhnov remained in Yekaterinburg for the next two years, captaining the team in 2017-18.[21]
In July 2019, Mikhnov and his brother Andrei joined Metallurg Zhlobin of the Belarusian Extraleague.[27] In 3 years in Zhlobin, Mikhnov led the team in scoring 3 times, led the Belarusian Extraleague in points once, and won two Belarusian Championships.
In 2022, Mikhnov opted to leave Zhlobin for HK Brest, but returned to Zhlobin mid-season.[28]
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