Washington Capitals Prospect Ivan Miroshnichenko Hits His Step This Season – Hockey Writers – Capitals Prospects

Whenever the Washington Capitals select a player in the NHL Entry Draft out of Russia, the comparison will always be to Alexander Ovechkin. It’s a high bar as Ovechkin is arguably the greatest scorer of all time but one Ivan Miroshnichenko hopes to reach at the end of his career, and something the Capitals wanted when they selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 Draft.

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The goal he scored against the Hershey Bears on Tuesday, Nov. 12 against the Bridgeport Islanders has shades of Ovechkin in it. Miroshnichenko was in the face circle and at one point, he shot the puck behind the net with a slap shot helping the Bears win the game 5-4.

Miroshnichenko is in his second season in the American Hockey League (AHL) and looking to the NHL, he has started to hit the mark and become a top player. He’s been one of the Bears’ best skaters this season and the Capitals will call on him as a regular soon because of it.

Miroshnichenko’s First Year Struggles

This time last year, Miroshnichenko was not on the list. He was dealing with injuries but more importantly he was playing poorly and the Bears kept him in a limited role. He was healthy in a few games and when he did, he struggled to make a significant impact.

Adjusting to the AHL is already a daunting task for any prospect. Moving from the Continental Hockey League (KHL) and international hockey in general to the AHL is a double adjustment. Players need to learn a north-south game where space is hard to come by but skill is just one notch below NHL level. Miroshnichenko needed time to adjust to a new game before the Bears could see his true impact.

Many AHL teams will allow their prospects to thrive in the struggles and still play a major role in the roster. The Bears aren’t like most AHL teams. Yes, they want to improve their chances but they see the whole season as the Calder Cup or it explodes (they have won 13 times) and they will not play the players who stop them and keep them from winning. Miroshnichenko needed a few games on the bench and included in the lineup before getting used to the team going forward.

The good news is that by the end of the 2023-24 season, Miroshnichenko was an integral part of the offense. He finished with nine goals and 16 assists with seven goals and five assists in the playoffs to help the Bears win the Calder Cup. It was the only indication that the sky would be the limit in 2024-25.

Miroshnichenko’s Role in the Trial

After finding his footing last season, he has stepped up as a winger. Miroshnichenko’s best attribute is finding the back of the net with his shot from faceoff circles, but he does it all for the Bears. He can create scoring chances and find open bowlers with intermediate passes making him a reliable part of the top six.

It also helps that Miroshnichenko is a skater who can swarm teams on the run and make plays in space. However, his biggest impact is on the offensive end which is rare for prospects. The game is slow on the offensive end and where other players struggle to make plays, his hockey sense and skills make him a scoring threat on the ice. Those skills translate to the NHL, which is the next step for the 20-year-old midfielder.

Miroshnichenko has seven goals and seven assists in 14 games. The 14 points are tied with Ethen Frank for the most for the Bears and unlike Frank, who has 10 goals and only four assists, he makes an impact in all aspects of the game. The Bears have plenty of talent in their forward unit, star power and depth at forward, yet Miroshnichenko still stands out.

Capitals Can Add to the Unit of Advanced Progression

The Capitals are one of the surprises in the NHL this season. They have a 10-4 record and their offense has been stellar, scoring 4.21 goals per game. Ovechkin’s resurgence in scoring has helped, but the forward depth has made this team one of the best in the Eastern Conference.

The NHL roster will only improve when Miroshnichenko joins them sometime this season. He’ll be a reliable scorer in the middle of the sixth and can elevate another offense. There are many chances that Miroshnichenko will stay in the AHL and help the Bears compete for another Calder Cup, but if the Capitals are in contention, it would not be surprising if he joins them for a run at the Stanley Cup.