As the 2022 NHL Draft Combine gets underway in Buffalo, there’s some great news coming from NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr. Top prospect Ivan Miroshnichenko, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year, has completed his treatments and has been given the green light to return to training. His goal is to be ready for next season, said Marr.
Based on pure skill, Miroshnichenko is a top-ten talent in this year’s draft class. With a somewhat tough season for him in the VHL, the second-tier Russian league, combined with the uncertainty of his cancer diagnosis, he started dropping on public boards and on the NHL’s Central Scouting list as well. While some (such as TSN’s Bob McKenzie) still have Miroshnichenko ranked in their top ten, others have dropped him all the way to the early second round. There’s also the question of how willing some NHL clubs will be to take Russian players.
Miroshnichenko did finish the year with 10 goals and 16 points in 31 games with Omskie Krylia of the VHL. He was notably left off the roster for the Russian World Juniors team as well.
Still, what seems to be a clean bill of health is spectacular news for the teenager, who can now hopefully continue to enjoy a development path to what could be a long and notable career.