How Flames' Daniil Miromanov had life, path to NHL changed by Igor Larionov

TAMPA – At age 16, a young Russian forward named Daniil Miromanov came to Canada to chase his hockey dream.

But it wasn’t until he met one of the game’s greatest minds that his path to the NHL was altered by a positional change he credits for changing everything.

“They call him The Professor for a reason,” chuckled the 26-year-old Moscow native of Soviet Union legend Igor Larionov.

“I was playing midget AAA in Toronto and I went to a camp he was part of in Detroit 

“I was one of many forwards there, but there were only three defencemen.

“I wanted to showcase my skills to Igor and I knew I would play a lot if I played defence.”

So he took a chance and gave it a spin, attracting the attention of the KLM Line’s Hall of Fame centre, who declared days later he would like to help the young man transition into a blue liner.

“He would talk to my parents after every game and was shocked I’d never played defence before,” said Miromanov, who was traded from Vegas to Calgary with two draft picks Wednesday as part of a deal for Noah Hanifin.

“He told them, ‘he needs to be a defenceman because tall, right-handed, offensive defencemen are so rare.’

“He played a massive role in my life and is one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. I still talk to him all the time, including just last week. 

“An amazing person and great mentor.”

Shoulder and knee injuries have limited Miromanov’s play the last two seasons, but as his AHL numbers can attest, the 6-foot-4, 207-pound defenceman possesses an offensive upside Larionov and the Flames have taken notice of.

Jakob Pelletier saw it in its infancy in Moncton where the Flames winger witnessed Miromanov’s “wicked” shot. 

Flames defenceman Brayden Pachal spent three years with “Miro” in AHL Henderson where the Russian ran the power play, picking up 21 goals and 68 points in 89 games the three seasons.  

“He’s a really good skater and probably the best player I’ve played with at bringing the puck up the ice,” said Pachal, who has blossomed in Calgary since escaping the depth of Vegas’ blue chip blue liners.

“He can pick apart neutral zone forechecks and make plays coming up the ice that lead to offence.  Just a super-gifted player.

“He hasn’t played much in the NHL, but once he gets his opportunity I’m sure he’ll run with it.”

As a call-up with the Golden Knights, Miromanov spent time running the big club’s power play while Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo were hurt.

“When Theodore was injured he just basically stepped in and took over his role pretty seamlessly, so I feel like if he gets 100 games under his belt with that type of opportunity you don’t know what a guy like that can do,” said Pachal, who played one season with Miromanov as his defence partner. 

“I think it will be pretty exciting for this organization.”

Miromanov will meet the Flames in Sunrise Friday, with hopes of jumping into the lineup Saturday against the Panthers to play in his 30^th NHL game, just his fifth big league game this year after recovering from knee surgery.  

And after the Flames wrap up their three-game roadie in Carolina Sunday, he’s jacked to return to Calgary where he knows the passion of Canadian hockey fans well.

“I spent five years in Canada so I understand what hockey means there – it’s like a religion,” said Miromanov, who signed a two-year extension with the Flames at $1.25 million annually shortly after Wednesday’s trade was announced.

“I see how people in Calgary worship hockey and I’m so excited to be part of it.

“I’m just so thankful to the organization for the opportunity and for believing in me enough to sign me to an extension.

“I’ll do my best every day to show them their decision was the right one.”