On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Washington Capitals have granted Ivan Miroshnichenko permission to seek a trade. The former first-round pick has only played in three games this season and is looking for an opportunity to play, and the Montreal Canadiens might be the team that can give him that.
Friedman noted that the Capitals are not going to give the forward away, and waiving him at this time is not an option. It is going to require Kent Hughes to make a solid offer, but Miroshnichenko is a low-risk, high-reward move that the Canadiens need to consider.
Miroshnichenko is a physical forward who was drafted 20th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. He has appeared in 55 NHL games to this point in his career with six goals, eight assists, and 100 hits. This season, he played in three games and has one goal, which was actually against Montreal.
He also got into a fight that game after a big hit at center ice on Juraj Slafkovsky, which Alexandre Carrier took exception to.
Montreal Canadiens may want a more established Top 6 forward but Miroshnichenko has undeniable upside
The Montreal Canadiens are dealing with several injuries, especially in their Top 6 without Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov. Even before the injuries, it was a point of focus for Kent Hughes, with the pursuit of players like Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko.
However, Miroshnichenko certainly has the scoring potential of a Marchenko or Knies, with physicality on par with both. The concern is that he hasn't shown that yet at the NHL level, but if the Canadiens can offer something like a mid-round pick and a prospect, this is a move that makes a lot of sense for Montreal.
While his NHL experience is limited, he has played over 140 regular season games in the AHL with 101 points and another 20 points in 34 playoff games. This certainly would have been a season where Miroshnichenko would have had a full-time role in the NHL, but the Capitals were very aggressive this offseason with additions like Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, and Boone Jenner that really blocked any path to regular ice time in the NHL.
If they do this now, it gives them a chance to get Miroshnichenko into their Top 6 to see how he does and evaluate him before Nick Suzuki or Demidov returns. Kent Hughes hasn't been able to make a big move yet, and a trade for Miroshnichenko might not qualify as that blockbuster trade he has been chasing; it is one that could pay major dividends this season and beyond.
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