Leafs’ Minten, Caps’ Miroshnichenko Among Prospects Getting Their NHL Opportunity

The injury to Alexander Ovechkin earlier this week will temporarily interrupt the future Hall of Famer’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record. But it could also temporarily derail the hot start of the Washington Capitals, who lead the Metropolitan Division with 27 points.

That is unless someone else can step up and fill Ovechkin’s void.

As it is often said, one player’s misfortune is another player’s opportunity. Here are five star NHL prospects who have been called up this week — and are capable of making an impact:

Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Washington Capitals

The talented Russian winger fell to 20th overall in the 2022 NHL draft because he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. But Miroshnichenko is now healthy — and showing that he was a steal for the Capitals.

The 20-year-old split time between the AHL and the NHL last season, where he had two goals and six points in 21 NHL games. This year, he has been at nearly a point-per-game pace with the Hershey Bears, scoring seven goals and 14 points in 16 games. With Ovechkin out, the Capitals will need Miroshnichenko to continue that output.

Nikita Grebenkin, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Injuries to Max Domi and David Kampf have forced the Leafs to bring up a pair of youngsters from the Toronto Marlies.

Grebenkin was selected in the fifth round in 2022 after lighting up the Russian junior MHL. After being loaned to another KHL club to gain experience in 2023, the 21-year-old lit it up for the Gargarin Cup-winning Metallurg Magnitogorsk, where he had 19 goals last season.

The 6-foot-2 right winger impressed during Toronto’s exhibition season and has continued to show potential at the AHL level with 10 points in 13 games with the Marlies.

Fraser Minten, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

The captain of Team Canada’s 2024 world junior squad started his AHL career with two goals and four points in five games this season.

Minten, a second-round pick in 2022, is a very cerebral player with excellent two-way skills. After getting a brief look at the NHL last season, where he went without a point in four games, the 20-year-old center was hoping to make a bid for the Leafs out of camp. Unfortunately, a high-ankle sprain in late September kept him out until early November.

Yaroslav Askarov, G, San Jose Sharks

A highly regarded goaltending prospect, Askarov was selected 11th overall in the 2020 NHL draft and played two years in the KHL before spending the following two seasons with AHL Milwaukee.

After the Preds re-signed Juuse Saros to a long-term extension, the 22-year-old Askarov asked for a trade. Nashville sent him to San Jose, where he’s been biding his time in the minors.

Askarov was named AHL goaltender of the month after posting a 6-3-0 record, 1.92 goals-against average, a .939 save percentage and two shutouts for the Barracudas. With Vitek Vanacek out with an injury, Askarov will share the net with Mackenzie Blackwood.

Jaxson Stauber, G, Utah Hockey Club

A second-generation NHLer – Stauber’s father, Robb, was a goaltender who played for Los Angeles and Buffalo – the 25-year-old went undrafted. But based on his numbers in the AHL, some teams might be kicking themselves for passing on him.

Originally signed as a free agent by Chicago in 2022, Stauber signed with Utah after spending the last two years with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate. Since then, he has posted excellent numbers with Tucson, including a 5-2-0 record, 2.29 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Utah recalled Stauber due to an injury to starter Connor Ingram.