Ivan Miroshnichenko leaves KHL to join Capitals

The Washington Capitals have signed their 2022 first round pick to a three year entry level contract. Ivan Miroshnichenko was selected in the first round at 20th overall. The 19 year old will earn $855,000 in the NHL and $82,500 in the AHL. After he left his KHL team this signing was imminent.

The six foot one, 185 pound forward recorded four points with three goals and one assist in 23 games with Avangard Omsk, averaging 8:27 minutes of ice time. The forward also recorded three assists in four games with Omskie Krylia in the Supreme Hockey League (Russia 2) and 14 points in 12 games with 10 goals and four assists in 12 games with Omskie Yastreby in the Junior Hockey League (Russia Jr.) this season.

Miroshnichenko tallied seven points with two goals and five assists in 16 playoff games with Omskie Yastreby which ranked tied for eighth on the team. The Ussuriysk, Russia native spent the 2021 22 season with Omsk Krylia and recorded 16 points in 31 games with 10 goals and six assists.

In addition, Miroshnichenko captained Team Russia to the gold medal at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he recorded nine points with four goals and five assists in five games. His nine points during the tournament ranked tied for fourth among all skaters and his plus seven plus minus rating ranked tied for second. He also represented Russia at the 2021 4 Nations Tournament where he had one goal and one assist for two points in three games.

Miroshnichenko was ranked third among European left wings and 11th among all European forwards by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft. He’s a left winger with a right hand shot and he fell to the Caps lap at the 20th pick after his draft value lowered due to being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma which cut his season short and raised questions about his future.

ESPN called him the steal of the draft at the time of his selection. Now we could see him in the Caps lineup sooner than we thought.