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March 29, 2024

Daniil Miromanov making case for future look with Golden Knights

Golden Knights Shut Out Kings in Preseason Game

David Becker/AP

Vegas Golden Knights’ Daniil Miromanov celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Las Vegas.

Golden Knights Shut Out Kings in Preseason Game

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) is held by Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kale Clague (58) during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Las Vegas. Launch slideshow »

Daniil Miromanov, formerly a scoring forward in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, hasn’t fully kicked those offensive instincts with the Golden Knights. 

He’s a defenseman now and trying to make a good showing in his first training camp.

Through two preseason games, it’s been impossible to take your eyes off Miromanov. He scored Thursday in his first game with Vegas, then chipped in a pair of goals in Friday’s 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

“I just tried to jump in when I see an opening,” Miromanov said. “It was just lucky. I said it last night, these guys are elite players. Just get open and you receive the pass, it’s just easy.”

On his first goal, he rushed in from the blue line to receive a Jonathan Marchessault feed and backhanded it into the net. On his second goal, he denied a Los Angeles clearing attempt, executed a nifty give-and-go with Reilly Smith and held the puck long enough for Kings goalie Cal Petersen to commit before tucking it around him.

“You can see he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and that’s nice for a young player when you’re able to jump in and see the puck go in the back of the net,” Smith said. “He had a big goal yesterday and just kind of rolled over the momentum into tonight.”

There are areas of his game that need to improve to be considered for an NHL job down the line. The offense has been superb so far, but the defense has been less stellar, coughing up a goal after a poor pinch Thursday and spending a lot of time in his own end Friday.

“Talented guy, obviously offensively from the blue line in,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “I think he’s still learning the position defensively at this level, but there’s a lot to like there.”

DeBoer was then asked what he’s hoping to see more of with Miromanov. 

“Like all young defensemen, you’re not going to score every night, so it’s defending,” DeBoer said. “If you get stuck on the ice against (Kings captain Anze) Kopitar, can you survive and defend and make the right play?”

There’s a still an adjustment to be expected. 

While he’s 24 and played his junior hockey in North America, he did return to his native Russia for two years, and only came back to this side of the ocean late last year. He played in 11 games with the Silver Knights between the regular season and playoffs, his only North American experience above the ECHL level.

There’s promise in his game, though, which is why the Golden Knights brought him into the organization late last year. He had 29 points in 58 KHL games last season, then chipped in two assists in the playoffs.

He’ll likely start the year in AHL Henderson, though DeBoer intimated after Friday’s game that he won’t be at the start of Silver Knights camp on Monday and that he’s an option to play in Tuesday’s preseason game in Colorado. 

DeBoer also said he wants the final preseason games — Thursday at home against Arizona and Oct. 9 in San Jose — to be dress rehearsals for the regular season with mostly NHL players.

So Miromanov has one more opportunity to make a lasting impression on DeBoer and the rest of the staff. The NHL blue line looks set with the septet of Alex Pietrangelo, Alex Martinez, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, Zach Whitecloud, Nicolas Hague and Dylan Coghlan. 

There’s a lot that can happen between now and whenever Vegas might need its eighth defenseman of the season, but Miromanov has been the most impressive by a large margin. He didn’t make many waves when he signed an AHL contract with the team last season, but plenty of Golden Knights fans know his name now.

It’s preseason, yes, but both of Miromanov’s goals came against the Kings’ top line Friday night. For an organization known in its earliest days of getting the most of undervalued players, there’s a chance it may have found another in Miromanov.

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