Capitals Sign Ivan Miroshnichenko

Another Washington Capitals prospect is officially in the family. Monday, the Capitals announced they signed 2022 first-round pick Ivan Miroshnichenko to an entry-level contract. 

The deal includes a two-way clause that pays him $855,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 at the AHL level. 

Miroshnichenko, 19, had four points (3-1-4) in 23 games with Avangard Omsk of the KHL this season. He averaged just 8:27 of ice time per game. 

According to the Capitals release, the Ussuriysk, Russia native captained Russia to the gold medal at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He had nine points (4-5-9) in five games. Miroshnichenko’s nine points during the tournament ranked tied for fourth among all skaters, and his +7 plus/minus rating ranked tied for second.

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'll join other Washington Capitals' top prospects, Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre, as the Capitals will presumably inject more youth into their lineup in 2023-24. 

Smaht Scouting summed his potential as a second-line forward. "If he can work on his shot, he has the potential to be lethal at the NHL level," the scouting report read.