The Canadiens may have a chance to pounce on a useful young forward if Washington can’t keep him on the roster.
Ivan Miroshnichenko is drawing attention around the league, and Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast that the Capitals may need to put him on waivers. Several teams are watching closely because they believe he can help at the NHL level, and if Washington can’t carve out a spot for him, that waiver route would be the fallback - something the Capitals would prefer to avoid.
For Montreal, the fit is easy to see. Miroshnichenko is a 22-year-old left winger who scored a power-play goal Wednesday in Washington’s 5-4 win over the Canadiens. He logged 10:01 of ice time and finished with two penalty minutes in that game.
He was taken 20th overall by Washington in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft and has put up 14 points in 53 NHL games, with six goals. His cap hit sits at $925,000.
The AHL production is stronger. In 2024-25 with Hershey, he had 42 points in 53 games, including 23 goals. He also posted 34 points in 41 games last season.
Montreal, now 3-3-1, could use help up front. Kapanen has yet to play, Demidov and Florian Xhekaj are injured, and Kirby Dach has only one assist in seven games.
That’s where Miroshnichenko becomes interesting for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens. He’s big, skilled, and has center capability, but the price would matter if he ends up on the trade market. Former first-round picks don’t come cheap.
If he lands on waivers, Montreal could make a claim without giving up assets. If not, Hughes would have to work through a trade.
In Other News...
Canadiens Forward Injury Could Force A Lineup Decision Soon
The Canadiens are already juggling forward injuries, and Florian Xhekajs latest setback only adds another layer to the mix. He left practice early and was first listed as day-to-day, but the team has not offered much detail beyond calling it a lower-body injury, leaving Montreal to keep sorting through its options up front as the lineup picture shifts.
For Owen Beck, the timing could be beneficial. What was shaping up as a short stay with the Canadiens may now stretch a bit longer as the club works around multiple absences among its forwards, giving the coaching staff one more roster question to answer while Xhekaj recovers. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Keep Creating Chances But Still Look Exposed In Atlantic Race
The Canadiens have spent the early part of the 2026-27 season doing enough to keep games interesting, but not enough to turn those chances into the kind of results that matter in the Atlantic race. Montreal has been getting looks and pushing the pace, yet the finish has lagged behind the process, leaving the club stuck in seventh place and searching for more payoff from its attack.
Josh Anderson and Zachary Bolduc have been among the brighter spots, helping keep the offense afloat while the rest of the group looks for a sharper edge. Even so, the bigger issue remains whether Montreal can keep creating this volume of chances and start turning them into goals before the standings gap begins to widen. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Dachs Canadiens Role Just Turned Into A Bigger Roster Question
Kirby Dachs start with the Canadiens has already become a bigger talking point than anyone in Montreal likely expected. Through seven games, he has managed only one assist and a minus-4 rating, and the reduced ice time has sent him sliding to the fourth line as the club continues to sort through its early-season lineup and roster balance.
What makes the situation more notable is that his name is no longer being framed only around on-ice production. Reports have suggested a trade is becoming a more realistic possibility, with other teams showing interest as Montreal weighs its options. For a player still in the middle of establishing his place with the Canadiens, that kind of attention adds another layer to an already uneasy stretch. [Read more 🡒]