The Washington Capitals recalled prospect Ivan Miroshnichenko from the AHL’s Hershey Bears last week. The 2022 first-round pick has been one of Hershey’s top players all season, recording 31 points (12g, 19a) in 38 games.
While Miroshnichenko has started his third stint up with the Capitals this season as a healthy scratch, head coach Spencer Carbery said Monday that the goal is for that to change down the stretch.
“I would say to be determined,” Carbery said. “We’ll see where we’re at, we’ll see how we play, we’ll see how other individuals perform. Do we want to get him into games consistently and get an opportunity to watch him play? Absolutely. We want to accomplish that goal, but we also want to accomplish some other things as well that will determine whether we can accomplish that goal.”
Miroshnichenko has played in just four games for the Capitals this season, far fewer than the 18 he played last year and the 21 he played during the 2023-24 campaign. In his 43 career NHL games, he has collected 10 points (3g, 7a).
The 22-year-old Russian forward signed a two-year contract extension with the Capitals on Halloween. Miroshnichenko and other waivers-exempt Caps prospects can travel back and forth from Hershey and DC for the rest of the season as the club has plenty of cap space, and the NHL’s 23-man roster limit is no longer in effect post-deadline.
Given that he was still on Hershey’s roster at the deadline on Friday, he also remains eligible to play for the Bears in this year’s Calder Cup Playoffs if they qualify. Miroshnichenko helped the Bears win the 2024 Calder Cup and has 17 points (10g, 7a) in 28 career AHL playoff games.
Miroshnichenko won’t be in the Capitals’ lineup against the Calgary Flames on Monday, as Carbery stated the same personnel from Saturday’s game in Boston would dress again. His next chance to play would come on Wednesday in Philadelphia against Matvei Michkov and the Flyers.
