{"id":534101,"date":"2026-03-20T04:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T04:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/534101\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T04:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T04:36:08","slug":"ivan-miroshnichenko-has-been-a-healthy-scratch-for-all-six-capitals-games-since-his-recall-i-dont-like-a-guy-sitting-this-long-especially-being-a-young-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/534101\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivan Miroshnichenko has been a healthy scratch for all six Capitals games since his recall: \u2018I don\u2019t like a guy sitting this long, especially being a young player\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Washington Capitals recalled prospect winger Ivan Miroshnichenko<\/a>, the club\u2019s 2022 first-round pick, on March 6 after the trade deadline<\/a>. Since then, Miroshnichenko has practiced with the club but has been a healthy scratch in all six of the team\u2019s games.<\/p>\n

After a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, that run of games in the press box is unlikely to come to an end against the New Jersey Devils on Friday. However, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery is cognizant of how long Miroshnichenko has been out of the lineup and wants to get him back into a game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve felt it\u2019s been a little bit disappointing that we haven\u2019t been able to get him in yet,\u201d Carbery said Thursday. \u201cI just feel like, with the health of our forward group, I would have liked to have seen him in the amount of time that he\u2019s been up. I don\u2019t like a guy sitting this long, especially being a young player. So, that is on the horizon and on my mind. I can\u2019t tell you exactly when it\u2019s going to happen, but he\u2019s up here for a reason, and he\u2019ll get an opportunity at some point.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miroshnichenko, who has 10 points (3g, 7a) in 43 career NHL games, has gone without a point in the four games he has played this season. In the AHL with the Hershey Bears, he has recorded 31 points (12g, 19a) in 38 games, receiving heavy minutes from Bears head coach Derek King. The 22-year-old Russian forward\u00a0signed a two-year contract extension with the Capitals on Halloween<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The most notable moment Miroshnichenko has had during his call-up, noticed by Monumental Sports Network\u2019s Tarik El-Bashir<\/a>, is when he connected with Cole Hutson<\/a> during a two-on-two drill during Hutson\u2019s first NHL practice. The two are part of a burgeoning youth movement on the Capitals that is just starting to push through onto the team\u2019s roster.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just practice. BUT. During a 2-on-2 drill, Hutson threaded a pass through a couple of defenders for a goal by Miroshnichenko. \u201cYeah, we all definitely noticed that,\u201d Roy said with a grin. \u201cHe was getting some love there. It was really fun to see for us.\u201d #ALLCAPS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) March 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Carbery\u2019s most recent words on Miroshnichenko are more definitive than when he was asked a similar question 10 days ago<\/a> and declared the young winger\u2019s role down the stretch as still \u201cto be determined.\u201d However, it\u2019s still somewhat puzzling that a healthy, waivers-exempt player who can be returned to the Bears by the Capitals at a moment\u2019s notice has not played for either team since March 3.<\/p>\n

The NHL\u2019s 23-man roster limit is no longer in effect after the deadline, and the Capitals only have to worry about staying salary cap compliant. Miroshnichenko is already likely to return to Hershey at some point over the next month, as he was still on the Bears\u2019 roster at the deadline, meaning he remains eligible to play in this year\u2019s Calder Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n

Miroshnichenko helped the Bears win the 2024 Calder Cup and has 17 points (10g, 7a) in 28 career AHL playoff games.<\/p>\n

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