Miroshnichenko Trade: Capitals Open Door for Winger

The Capitals are open to trading Ivan Miroshnichenko.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Washington has given the young winger permission to speak with other NHL clubs about a deal. Here’s his post on it:

Friedman explained how the Capitals are handling it on Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines.

“He’s been given permission to talk to other teams by the Capitals. Now, what the Capitals have said is that they have to get a legit return. They’re not going to put him on waivers; they know he won’t clear. They will trade him, but the return has to be legitimate. They won’t just do it for the sake of doing it.”

Friedman also pointed out that Miroshnichenko was the 20th overall pick in 2022 and called him a talented young guy who just can’t get into the lineup. He has played three games this season, averaging 11:03 of ice time with one goal, against Montreal.

This follows Friedman’s earlier report that multiple teams were watching the 22-year-old. Now Washington is letting those teams call.

The logjam is the problem. Miroshnichenko only got in because Pierre-Luc Dubois was sick, and he went back to the press box once the Capitals got healthy. Ethen Frank has been the other extra forward, with just two games played.

Waivers are off the table because of the roster rules. Miroshnichenko made the team out of camp, so he is no longer waiver-exempt, and sending him to Hershey would mean exposing him to every other club. He signed a two-year, $1.85 million extension last October.

He has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 55 career NHL games. In the AHL he put up 101 points in 141 games over three years and won the 2024 Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears.

Washington is carrying 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies. A team that wants a young winger now has a seller who is listening, as long as the price is right.