Ivan Miroshnichenko and his representation have reportedly been allowed to explore a trade with another team as the Washington Capitals‘ 2022 first-round pick has been healthy-scratched in seven of the team’s first 10 games this season.
The Capitals are looking for a “legit return” back, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman floated the Egor Chinakhkov situation with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season as a comparable.
While Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery wouldn’t comment on the trade chatter after practice on Monday, he did speak about Miroshnichenko’s professionalism during a time where he’s essentially blocked from coming into the lineup most nights.
“Yeah, I don’t really get into the contractual/agent stuff with Miro,” Carbery said. “I can just speak for his and my relationship, and he’s been fantastic this year.
“I’ve been really, really impressed and proud of the way that, not only he’s come in in great shape, good camp, have loved the way even out of the lineup how he’s come to the rink every day,” he continued. “Coachable, working his butt off, doing extra things, being a good teammate, trying to have enthusiasm and positivity, even in a difficult situation when you’re not playing. And it can be frustrating, it can be negative — not at all (with him). And that’s been really impressive to me.”
Miroshnichenko has just one point in his three appearances this season — a goal against the Montreal Canadiens on October 14– while averaging 11:03 of ice time. The 22-year-old Russian forward made the Capitals out of training camp for the first time in his career this season, but has spent a majority of his time in the press box after the Capitals added Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, and Boone Jenner over the offseason, blocking him from becoming an every-night player.
During his chat with reporters, Carbery would only consider a future with Miroshnichenko in it, focusing on what the forward prospect could do to stay in the lineup and then carve himself out a spot longterm.
“I thought he did a good job with the three games that he played,” Carbery said. “And so, it’s a little bit of circumstance that he comes out, but I think he’s — I know I speak for the coaches. We like him. We have a deep forward group, and when we get healthy, it sort of pushes him out, which is no fault of his because I felt like, again, he did well in the games that he played.
“Now it’s about just staying ready when inevitably, knock on wood, hopefully not, but you guys know how an 84-game NHL season works (with injuries). In this next opportunity, just take advantage of it, and hopefully that snowballs and turns into 10, 20, 30, 40 games for him, because we like what he did in those first three games.”
With so many talented high-end skill forwards, that situation seems unlikely, though, as the team looks to do what’s best for the young winger’s future.
