Colorado Avalanche fans that are hoping for a certain NCAA prospect to sign will have to wait a little longer, but may have something to cheer them up. According to Darren Dreger of TSN, Andrei Mironov has been given a verbal release from his KHL club and will sign with the Avalanche in the next few days.
Mironov was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, and has shown the potential to be an NHL defender capable of doing several different things on the ice. His offensive game is improving, but it’s his ability to get under opponents’ skin and play on (or sometimes over) the edge. Adrian Dater of BSN Denver says that he models his game after former NHL veteran Darius Kasparaitis. He can sometimes cross the line into dangerous territory, but is effective all the same.
Mironov is currently playing in the World Championships with Russia, and has a chance to continue to play against NHL talent as soon as next season. The 22-year old shoots left, and could slide in behind Nikita Zadorov and Francois Beauchemin next season.