Ivan Miroshnichenko is back in the NHL after the Washington Capitals recalled him from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Friday.
Miroshnichenko joins a Capitals team stunned by the trade departures of two key members of their roster, John Carlson and Nic Dowd, at the 2026 Trade Deadline. The 22-year-old winger has been up with the Capitals twice before this season, getting into four games.
Despite the Capitals already carrying 23 players, Miroshnichenko could be recalled because the league’s roster limit is no longer in effect post-deadline.
In his third AHL season with the Bears, Miroshnichenko has recorded 31 points (12g, 19a) in 38 games. Given that he was still on Hershey’s roster at the deadline earlier on Friday, he remains eligible to play for the Bears in this year’s Calder Cup Playoffs if they qualify.
Miroshnichenko signed a two-year contract extension with the Capitals on Halloween. The 2022 first-round pick has played in 43 career NHL games for the Capitals over the past three seasons, recording 10 points (3g, 7a).
According to Hershey’s Zack Fisch, Miroshnichenko traveled with the Bears to play the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. Instead, he’ll now join the Capitals in Boston to play the Bruins.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Recall Ivan Miroshnichenko
Forward has appeared in four games with Washington this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Ivan Miroshnichenko from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Miroshnichenko, 22, has appeared in four games with the Capitals this season. In 38 games with Hershey, Miroshnichenko has recorded 31 points (12g, 19a). The 6’1”, 205-pound forward ranks tied for second on the Bears in power-play goals (4), tied for third in goals and fourth in points.
Miroshnichenko set AHL career highs in goals (23), assists (19) and points (42) with Hershey in 2024-25. Miroshnichenko’s 23 goals led Hershey, while his 42 points ranked third on the team. The Ussuriysk, Russia native also ranked second on the Bears in shots (146), tied for second in power-play goals (7), tied for third in game-winning goals (4) and fourth in power-play assists (10). During the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, Miroshnichenko recorded five points (3g, 2a) in eight games, ranking tied for second on Hershey in goals and tied for third in points. In addition, Miroshnichenko appeared in 18 games with Washington last season, registering four points (1g, 3a). Miroshnichenko’s four points came in his first six games of the season, which included a career-long three-game point streak from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 2024 (3a). During his 18-game call-up, Miroshnichenko led the Capitals in hits per 60 minutes (9.99).
Miroshnichenko appeared in 21 games with the Capitals during the 2023-24 season, recording six points (2g, 4a). Miroshnichenko made his NHL debut on Dec. 20, 2023 vs. the New York Islanders and made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut on April 26, 2024 at the New York Rangers, becoming the first member of his draft class to appear in a playoff game. In 47 regular-season games with Hershey in 2023-24, Miroshnichenko led Bears rookies in points (25), assists (16), power-play goals (2), points-per-game (0.53) and plus-minus rating (+15). Miroshnichenko added 12 points (7g, 5a) in 20 playoff games during Hershey’s run to the Calder Cup championship, ranking tied for second in goals and tied for third in points among AHL rookies.
The Capitals selected Miroshnichenko in the first round (20th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Miroshnichenko has recorded 10 points (3g, 7a) in 43 career NHL games with Washington. In 138 career AHL games with Hershey, Miroshnichenko has registered 98 points (44g, 54a).
