March 7, 2024, 4:20 p.m.
TAMPA – At the age of 16, a young Russian forward named Daniil Miramanov came to Canada to pursue his hockey dreams.
But it was when he met one of the game’s greatest minds that his path to the NHL changed, with a change in position that he believes changed everything.
“There’s a reason they call him ‘Professor’,” laughed Soviet legend Igor Larionov, 26, from Moscow.
“I was playing midget AAA in Toronto and went to the camp he was in in Detroit.”
“I was one of many forwards there, but there were only three defensemen.
“I wanted to show Igor my skills and I knew he could play a lot if he played defense.”
So he took a chance and went for it, attracting the attention of the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Hall of Fame center, who declared a few days later that he wanted to help the young man transfer to a blue cruiser.
“He was talking to my parents after every game, so he was shocked that I had never played defense before,” he said on Wednesday as part of the deal with Noah Hanifin, who was drafted by No. said Milanov, who was traded from Las Vegas to Calgary with the team.
“He told them, ‘He needs to be a defenseman because tall, right-handed, offensive defensemen are very rare.'”
“He has played a huge role in my life and is one of the smartest men I have ever met. I still talk to him all the time, including last week.
“He’s a great person and a great leader.”
Shoulder and knee injuries have limited Miromanov’s play the past two seasons, but the 6-foot-4, 207-pound defenseman has offensive upside, as his AHL numbers attest. The Flames took notice of Larionov.
Jacob Pelletier was in the early days of it in Moncton when the Flames winger witnessed Milanov’s “evil” shot.
Flames defenseman Braden Patchall, also known as “Miro,” spent three years with AHL Henderson, where the Russian played on the power play, scoring 21 goals and 68 points in 89 games over three seasons.
“He’s a really good skater, probably the best player I’ve ever played with in terms of getting the puck up the ice,” said Packall, who has blossomed in Calgary since escaping the blue-line depth of Las Vegas. Told.
“He can make detailed forechecks in the neutral zone and create plays from the ice that lead to offense. He is truly a genius player.
“He hasn’t played much in the NHL, but once he gets his chance, I’m sure he’ll do well.”
Miromanov was called up by the Golden Knights and spent time manning the big club’s power play while Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo were injured.
“When Theodore got injured, he basically just filled in and took over his role very smoothly, so what a guy like that can do when he has 100 games under his belt on an occasion like that. I feel like I don’t know,” said Pachal, who played one season with Milanov as a defensive partner.
“I think it’s going to be very exciting for this organization.”
Miromanov is scheduled to play against the Flames at Sunrise on Friday and expects to jump into the lineup to play at 30 on Saturday against the Panthers.th The NHL game was his fifth major league game of the year since recovering from knee surgery.
And after the Flames complete a three-game road trip to Carolina on Sunday, he will return to Calgary, where he knows the passion of Canadian hockey fans.
“I spent five years in Canada, so I understand what hockey means there. It’s like a religion,” he said shortly after Wednesday’s trade announcement with the Flames, who signed him for a two-year extension with a $1.25 million annual salary. said Miromanov, who signed the contract.
“I see how the people of Calgary adore hockey and I’m so excited to be a part of it.
“I’m really grateful to the organization for giving me the opportunity and for believing in me and signing me to a contract extension.
“I will do my best every day to show them that they made the right decision.”
