Saturday: Mirinov has cleared waivers, according to CapFriendly, and agent Dan Milstein tweets that he will indeed return to Russia.
Friday: The Colorado Avalanche have placed Andrei Mironov on unconditional waivers with the intention of a mutual contract termination. Mironov only signed his entry-level contract last May, but has been up and down between the NHL and minor leagues all season, unable to really find a role on the Avalanche blue line.
A contract termination would allow Mironov to return to Russia, where he has played for the last five seasons. The 23-year old defenseman was originally selected by Colorado in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, when he had already been passed over two years in a row. There was no guarantee that he would come over at all, but it looks like his stint in North America will be a short one.
Mironov has played in 10 games for the Avalanche this season, recording three points. The rest of the year has been spent with the San Antonio Rampage, where he has nine points in 26 games and has generally fared very well.
Interestingly, CapFriendly lists Mironov’s contract as including a European Assignment Clause, which normally means that he could be sent back to Russia but remain in the Avalanche system. A mutual termination would technically void their control over the player and make him an unrestricted free agent. If that’s truly what happens, there is likely some sort of guarantee from Mironov’s camp that he won’t sign with another team in the NHL.
Igor Eronko of Sport-Express first reported that the Avalanche were intending to waive Mironov.