Capitals recall Ivan Miroshnichenko and Hendrix Lapierre from Bears

The Washington Capitals have taken the ice for practice as we are writing this and just minutes before they did the team recalled Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko from the Hershey Bears. Yesterday the Caps re assigned Joe Snively to Hershey.

At practice Miroshnichenko was wearing a red top six jersey. Max Pacioretty, who was acquired at free agency over the summer, wore a normal jersey. He has yet to play this season as he has been recovering from surgery.

Lapierre and Miroshnichenko are both first round forwards that were drafted by the Capitals. Miroshnichenko was the 20th overall pick in 2022 and has recorded 15 points in 27 games in his first season with Hershey, eight goals and seven assists, as they sit atop the AHL.

He leads Bears rookies in goals, assists and points and tied for seventh among AHL rookies in goals. He’s six foo and 192 pounds and ranks tied for third among all Hershey skaters in goals but his seven even strength goals are the second most on the Caps.

Last season he recorded four points with three goals and one assist in 23 games with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, averaging 8:27 minutes of ice time per game. He also recorded three assists in four games with Omskie Krylia of the Supreme Hockey League (Russia 2) and 14 points in 12 games with Omskie Yastreby with 10 goals and four assists in the Junior Hockey League (Russia Jr.).

Miroshnichenko has been anxious to make his NHL debut and he has an opportunity to tomorrow night when the Caps host the New York Islanders. In practice he skated on the third line with Lapierre and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Pacioretty was the extra forward.

Lapierre is no stranger to NHL action as he scored opening night of the 2021-22 season in his NHL debut. Since then he’s had three points in 11 games this season with a goal and two assists with the Caps.