Daniil Miromanov's tenure with the Calgary Flames has officially concluded. Multiple reports indicate that the 28-year-old Russian defenseman has signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The news, first reported by Sport-Express' Artur Khairulin, marks the end of a stint that saw Miromanov struggle to establish himself as a regular NHL contributor.
A Decline in Playing Time
Miromanov's departure comes as little surprise to those who followed the Flames closely. While he was well-regarded within the organization, his role diminished significantly over the course of the 2025-26 season. The defenseman fell out of the regular NHL rotation and spent the majority of the campaign with the Calgary Wranglers in the American Hockey League (AHL). In total, he appeared in just one NHL game during the 2025-26 season while logging 66 games with the Wranglers.
Acquired in the Hanifin Trade
The Flames acquired Miromanov at the 2024 trade deadline as part of the return for Noah Hanifin. However, the Russian blueliner never fully found his footing at the NHL level. He was recovering from a serious knee injury when he first arrived in Calgary, which set back his development. Even after regaining full health, Miromanov struggled to adapt to the Flames' system.
Size and Style
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 207 pounds, Miromanov possessed the ideal size for an NHL defenseman. However, he was never particularly physical, which limited his effectiveness in a bottom-pairing role. The Flames experimented with pairing him alongside MacKenzie Weegar, but the combination never clicked. Miromanov often found himself as the odd man out of the lineup due to his unsuitability for a third-pairing role, struggling to impose himself on games.
Flames head coach Ryan Huska commented on Miromanov's game in January: "We always ask our players to be hard in their own way. There's a difference between a Ryan Lomberg hard and a Miro hard. For Miro, we want him to use his speed the right way to close quick on people, and he has to get into hands and be hungry and hard in his one-on-one battles. When we look at him or when we evaluate him after a game, it's, 'Is he doing that? Is he competitive on and at the puck?'"
Statistical Overview
Over parts of three seasons with the Flames, Miromanov played in 65 NHL games, recording five goals and 11 assists. His only appearance in the 2025-26 season came early in the campaign.
Depth Chart Decisions
The Flames' defensive depth ultimately made Miromanov expendable. With prospects Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz emerging as NHL options, Brayden Pachal providing a physical presence, and Zach Whitecloud integrating seamlessly after being acquired in January, the team had an abundance of right-shot defensemen. Miromanov's expiring contract made his departure this summer an inevitability.
As Miromanov returns to Russia to continue his career with SKA St. Petersburg, the Flames will move forward with a younger, more physical blue line.
