The Calgary Flames did what had been expected for weeks: they traded Noah Hanifin. However, instead of sending him to sunny Florida to suit up with the Tampa Bay Lightning, they sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights. In return, the Flames received a first-round pick in either 2025 or 2026, a conditional third-round pick this year, and Daniil Miromanov. The Russian is the latest in a line of prospects from that country that the Flames have acquired under GM Craig Conroy. Here is what you need to know about him.
Who is Daniil Miromanov?
While he was born in Moscow, Miromanov grew up in Canada, playing his minor hockey in Toronto in the GTHL. He then went over the QMJHL for junior, playing two seasons with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan as a forward. In his second year, he put up just under a point-per-game pace.
However, he would go to Russia the following year, playing under former NHLer Igor Larionov in the HC Sochi system. Under his guidance, Miromanov switched from forward to defence and spent the majority of that season in the KHL. He would return to the QMJHL that season, putting up 32 points in 38 games.
He then bounced around for the next three seasons, between the Czech leagues, Russia, and the ECHL, before signing a one-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020–21. He then spent the next three seasons in the Vegas system before being traded to the Flames this week.
What are the Flames getting in Miromanov?
The biggest asset that the Flames are getting in Miromanov is another right-handed defenceman. To start the season, the Flames had just one of those in their prospect pool, and that was Jake Boltmann, who has yet to put up a single goal all season in the NCAA.
While they have added Hunter Brzustewicz to that group, having one more who can play at the NHL level is extra helpful.
Ironically, the former forward is best known for his strong defensive play as opposed to his offence. While he did put up strong offensive numbers in the AHL, that has not really translated at the NHL level. In 29 NHL career games, the blueliner has just seven points. This season, he has yet to record a point in the NHL, but has spent a good chunk of the year recovering from an ACL issue.
The challenge with Miromanov is despite being 6’4″, he is now 26, and expecting major development at this point is highly unlikely. There is probably more to his game, given Vegas’ unwillingness to put him on waivers and send him to the AHL, but he is not going to be the top pairing blueliner that Hanifin once was.
Miromanov likely tops out as your number-four blueliner in a pinch but really is likely a bottom-pairing guy. I have faith that he will show more offensive prowess than he has to this point, but he likely won’t explode offensively.
What I do like about him is he seems like a steady defenceman, who can hold his own at either end of the ice. While he isn’t the best prospect in the Vegas system, having him along with a first and likely a second-round pick is really good for the Flames.
Miromanov probably slots into the lineup over the road trip, and I would really like to see what he can do paired with MacKenzie Weegar. The Flames will likely want to split up their two top defencemen so as to provide some balance in their now shallow blueline. Miromanov and Weegar should provide a good balanced pair, where either player can pinch offensively knowing the other is strong enough defensively to cover back in case of a chance against.
While most are excited about the first-round pick that will be coming to the Flames in either 2025 or 2026, Miromanov’s acquisition is a tidy bit of work from the Flames’ GM.
