ARLINGTON, VA — Ivan Miroshnichenko’s idol is Alex Ovechkin and the young Capitals prospect has much of the same humor and personality The Great 8 exhibited in the past.
For instance, while attending the NHLPA Rookie Showcase at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday, Miroshnichenko was asked about his goals for the season ahead. Miroshnichenko interpreted the question as looking for a prediction for how many goals he’d score in the upcoming season, and he didn’t hold back his expectations.
“100, 500,” he joked in English.
Miroshnichenko eventually offered a more serious estimation in Russian with the help of Winnipeg Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov as translator. The Capitals’ 2022 first-round pick admitted his total ice time would affect the result.
“It depends how (much) ice time he’ll have on ice,” Chibrikov translated. “If he’ll have more, it will give him confidence, he’ll [have] more goals. He’ll say like 20 goals is good.”
Ivan Miroshnichenko, with an interpreting assist from Winnipeg’s Nikita Chibrikov, holding court with reporters. #Caps pic.twitter.com/PboKnbeVma
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) September 4, 2024
Recently, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery expressed hope that the young Russian could score 25 to 30 goals in the NHL someday.
“We would like to see ‘Miro’ become a quality, well-rounded player but also someone that can produce in the NHL and can be a potential 25-30 goal scorer,” he told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti. “So you want to make sure we’re taking the necessary steps to enable that inside of him, and not putting him in a scenario where he’s playing 10 minutes and playing on the fourth line.”
Miroshnichenko tallied two goals for the Capitals last season, adding four assists for a total of six points in 21. With the Hershey Bears, however, his scoring prowess became more visible — especially during the Bears’ run to their second-straight Calder Cup. Miroshnichenko scored seven goals in 20 games in the AHL postseason, at one point lighting the lamp five times in three games.
Now back in DC, Miroshnichenko took time to highlight how captain Alex Ovechkin has helped his transition to North America, something he’s spoke on throughout his debut season stateside.
“Ovi’s a big person for him,” Chibrikov translated Wednesday. “He helped him outside and inside the rink, everything. In the house, on the ice, (he) helped everything. H’s a real big person for everybody…like this big Russian man, you know? The legends.”
Miroshnichenko also emphasized the impact of the Bears’ playoff run for not only improving his on-ice talents, but increasing his comfort as he adjusted to a new style of play.
“It was the first season in North America, (first) full season in pro hockey,” he said, translated by Chibrikov. “He said he didn’t play so much playoff games so [when the Bears] went to the final, (that) made him more confident, more skilled, feel more confidence on the ice. It helped him a lot.”
Miroshnichenko’s lighthearted personality shone through amid the lengthy Cup run. When awarded the team’s Player of the Game Bear Head ahead of their series against the Hartford Wolf Pack, he announced “Next round, Bears go hunt wolf.” After a two-goal night in the Atlantic Division Finals, he told reporters “I so happy. We go Cup. Win, win, win, win” — a quote that made it onto the team’s official merchandise.
It’s called fashion, folks 😂#shrek #crocs #shrekcrocs
📸: @ianoland pic.twitter.com/HuaegdCSW8
— RMNB (@rmnb) May 10, 2024
And once the Bears emerged victorious in the Calder Cup Finals, Miroshnichenko and teammate Bogdan Trineyev danced with joy.
With the Capitals’ rookie camp set for September 13-16 and training camp kicking off just days later on September 19, Miroshnichenko will soon have the chance to show the team what he’s capable of, both on and off the ice.
