HERSHEY, PA — Ivan Miroshnichenko remained on a line with prospect Ilya Protas (7g, 8a) and close friend Bogdan Trineyev (6g, 6a) — the team’s two leading scorers — at Hershey Bears practice on Tuesday.
The trio was dominant and showed great chemistry in the Bears’ two games against the Cleveland Monsters late last week, scoring six goals combined, with all three players tallying once in each game. Protas even notched his first three-point game as a professional in Friday’s contest, highlighted by a brilliant primary assist on a Trineyev goal where he put the puck through his legs before dishing on his backhand.
“In the American League, it’s not easy to keep lines together because guys are called up, guys get hurt, or maybe for me, if things ain’t going well, I’ll switch them around for a period,” Bears head coach Derek King said to RMNB. “But these guys, I put them together, they’ve just been gelling. So hopefully I can keep them as long as I can. I don’t know how long they’re going to stay with us if they keep playing like that, but, you know, we’ll take advantage of it while we have them.”
Miroshnichenko scored twice and recorded three points in the two games against the Monsters — his first points of the season. He found his rhythm quickly after missing the previous 12 games due to an upper-body injury he suffered at practice the second week of the season.
Miroshnichenko kept himself busy during his month off the ice — and not just with his rehab. He changed agents and is now represented by Dan Milstein and Gold Star Hockey — the same agency that represents Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas, and Eriks Mateiko. Shortly after, on October 31, the Capitals announced that Miroshnichenko signed a two-year contract extension worth $925k per season. The deal came ahead of the Russian forward’s entry-level contract ending after the season, which would have made him a restricted free agent.
Shortly after the skate ended at Giant Center, Miroshnichenko made his way out of the locker room and approached as I sat in a foldout metal chair in the hallway.
“I heard you had questions,” he said, smiling.
Without any translation help, Miroshnichenko showed off his continued mastery of English and spoke about his decision to re-sign with the Capitals early, why his line is clicking so much, and whether he sees his friend, Matvei Michkov, as a guidepost for where he can take his career someday with the Capitals. He also revealed that he and Trineyev have been working out together over the summer with a special trainer.
Q: What went into your decision to re-sign in October, and how excited are you to be with the Washington Capitals for another two seasons?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Yeah, of course, I’m big excited the next couple seasons and a new step for me. I don’t know. I hope I play all games there and score many goals in the changing team and more younger players.
Q: Are you excited about how young the team is getting in Washington and potentially getting more opportunity?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Yeah, of course, it’s a change time. Ovi time, Johnny time, Willy time. Willy now is a big guy in Washington. And Leno, Sourdi, Pro. Little Pro here, me, I think it’s future Caps.
Q: You changed agents. What went into that? Was it about re-signing?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: You know, it’s life. It’s just next step for me. Mark Gandler, a great agent. And he was very helpful for me and in my life. I just changed.
Q: Do you look at your friend Matvei Michkov in Philly and go, ‘This is where I can go as a player someday when I get the opportunity?’ When you see him playing for the Flyers, does he inspire you to be like, ‘This is what I can do in Washington?’
Ivan Miroshnichenko: I don’t know. I don’t see this for me. It doesn’t matter. I just [focus] on my game, on the Washington game, and just thinking about myself.
Q: From down here, what did you think of Ovi’s huge performance last week? He scored a hat trick at 40. I mean, I’m 41, and I can barely move, get out of bed.
Ivan Miroshnichenko: I don’t know. I think you score four if you play now. [Laughing] Just kidding.
Ovi, crazy, you know. I think we always say it, he take a puck, he shoots, it’s a score. Doesn’t matter if it’s D-zone shooting or offense zone shooting. Ovi feeling it when he score. I don’t know. It’s just crazy.
Q: Does he keep tabs on you guys down here? Like, does he ever send a message to you?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Ovi? Not a lot. Just maybe a couple times. ‘Hey, how are you?’ That’s it.
Q: How exciting has it been to play on the same line with Ilya Protas and Bogdan Trineyev to start the year?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: It’s amazing to play with these two guys. I think it’s a big moment for Pro. Me and Bogey play together. We 100 percent understand what we’re doing. Pro first season. Me and Bogey, it’s the third season. I think we, for Pro, it’s an expressive person. And I think we help together.
Q: How good do you think Little Pro can be, considering the first couple of weeks, months into the season, and he’s leading the team in points?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: I think the first couple weeks, it’s just watch here what everybody doing here. It’s me and Bogey, doesn’t matter who (he’s watching). Now he’s have a lot of time. And coaches push, push, rookie guys and Pro. I think this help for him. And he’s feeling this confidence.
Q: How much have you seen Bogey grow as a person over the last three years? From my perspective, like here in Hershey, he was shy and kind of scared to talk. Now he seems like a leader. On the ice, he’s second on the team in points.
Ivan Miroshnichenko: I don’t know. He’s a funny person. I think now same me, same Pro. Coaches help him for push and go up. Now he’s leader here. Older guy. I don’t know, I think he’s a good player now. Leader here.
Q: Are you proud of him as a friend?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Yeah, of course.
Q: Bogey said that you guys work out together during the summer? I didn’t know this.
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Yeah, yeah.
Q: With your dad as the trainer?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Yeah.
Q: How long have you guys been doing that? Every year, or just this past summer?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Third year. Yeah. We started before first season play here. I text him and ‘What are you doing in the camp?’ You can join for practice with me and my dad. It’s nice.
Q: Do you think it’s really helped him?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: I think, yeah, of course. We really hard work in the summer. And father pushed Bogey.
Q: Did your dad also train your twin sister, Valeria? She plays soccer, right?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Old time, now he has work with the kids at a spot.
Q: What city is it in?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: Voronezh, so where I live and my family there and Bogey born there.
Q: Where does Bogey live normally?
Ivan Miroshnichenko: In Voronezh. He’s born there and he lives there. I born in Ussuriysk, but we leave, changed the city, and I live now there.
