Avalanche, Russian defenseman Andrei Mironov agree to two-year contract

While salaries of players in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League are not made public, the agent for new Avalanche defenseman Andrei Mironov says he will take a big pay cut to achieve his dream of playing in the NHL.

“He had one year left on his deal and would have made a lot more had he stayed there instead of Colorado,” said Dan Milstein, the Michigan-based agent for Mironov, who has agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avs that will be made official once the NHL league office approves the transfer agreement with the KHL.  “But he very much wanted to do this, to play for the Avalanche and be in the NHL.”

Who is Andrei Mironov? He is a 22-year-old, 6-foot-2, 198-pound defenseman who was drafted 101st overall by the Avs in the 2015 NHL draft. His stature has risen some in the two years since, however, as he achieved all-star status with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL and is currently playing with the Russian national team in the IIHF World Championships in Germany.

While Milstein would not disclose terms of the deal, under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement Mironov can make no more than $925,000 with the Avs in base salary of his entry-level contract, though he could achieve certain bonuses. All entry-level players must accept two-way contracts as well, which means Mironov would make considerably less if he were sent to any of the Avs’ minor-pro affiliates. Milstein does not anticipate his client playing at the AHL level after training camp, however.

“He is coming to Colorado to compete for a top spot. Playing for San Antonio (in the AHL) is nowhere part of his plan,” Milstein said.

Milstein said Mironov could be in Colorado as soon as early June. When the World Championships are over, Mironov will go back to Russia to get Visa paperwork in order, then move to Denver to look for a residence. Milstein said Mironov will participate in Avalanche rookie camp, which has yet to have dates set by the team. After that, he will be ready for regular training camp in September.

Mironov is leaving a Russian homeland where everyone pays a flat, 13-percent income tax rate, considerably lower than he’ll likely pay in the U.S. But, Milstein reiterated, his client expects a good return on an investment to his NHL future.

“He will be a very solid defenseman for a long time with Colorado, I feel very confident in saying that,” he said.

Here is video of Mironov in recent action, laying a big hit on someone: