Ivan Miroshnichenko, the Capitals’ first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, will make his NHL debut against the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.
Miroshnichenko is believed to have first learned of his first NHL call up on Monday, leaving Hershey for DC in the afternoon.
The Russian rookie, along with fellow call-up Hendrix Lapierre, took the ice with the Capitals on Tuesday morning. Shortly after the skate, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery invited Miroshnichenko and Belorussian forward Aliaksei Protas, his translator for the meeting, into his office.
Spencer Carbery: Tell me, how has it been going in Hershey? Process playing in Hershey. How does he feel about his game?
Aliaksei Protas: So he said he was struggling from the start with from like being in the spot, like position wise.
Spencer Carbery: Positioning?
Aliaksei Protas: Yeah, positioning. He struggled with that from the start.
[Carbery scrawls something into his notepad]
Spencer Carbery: Does he feel like that’s gotten better?
Aliaksei Protas: Yeah, way more comfortable now.
Spencer Carbery: Way more comfortable?
Aliaksei Protas: Yeah, yeah.
Spencer Carbery: Does he feel like (he’s) ready to play in the NHL?
Ivan Miroshnichenko interjects in English: Yes! [Smiles big]
Aliaksei Protas: Yes.
Spencer Carbery: How about the competitiveness? Work? The compete? How does he feel?
Ivan Miroshnichenko in English: Of course. [Big smile]
