The Washington Capitals may have landed the steal of the 2022 NHL Draft. With the 20th overall pick, the Capitals selected Russian forward Ivan Miroshnichenko.
“I think he’s the most talented player in this draft class,” ESPN’s Meghan Chayka said during the draft’s broadcast. “He is the most widely projected prospect and definitely a dark horse and part of that was that he had Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and missed a lot of this season.”
Draft pundits felt Miroshnichenko was a top-5 talent. However, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March. He received treatment in Germany. But, the condition and his ordeal certainly played a major factor in him sliding down the board to 20th.
Projections of where he ranked were all over the place due to his diagnosis cutting short his season in 2021-22.
The Capitals reviewed his medical records and interviewed him in Montreal prior to the draft, according to The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir.
At 18 years of age, Miroshnichenko stands at 6-foot-1, 194 pounds.
“Just a tremendous feeling, such a great organization,” Miroshnichenko said through his interpreter, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. “There are so many great players, Russian players that played for the organization. So to join them is a tremendous honor.”
Last season, Miroshnichenko had 10 goals and six assists in 31 games for Omsk Krylia of the Russian VHL. He won’t be eligible to play with the Capitals until 2024. That’s due to him signing a three-year extension with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.
Miroshnichenko intends to stay in North America for the moment, according to El-Bashir. The Capitals have their development camp next week. However, Miroshnichenko will ultimately return to Russia.
“He’s a really good player,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. “[The scouts] liked the personality. They liked the character. Like what he’s battling through right now. Hopefully it works out and we got a really good player on our hands.”
