Dmitrij Jaskin Signs In KHL

Thursday: Dynamo Moscow has officially announced the contract, bringing Jaskin back to Russia for the 2019-20 season.

Wednesday: The Washington Capitals decided not to issue a qualifying offer to Dmitrij Jaskin at the end of the season, making him an unrestricted free agent and able to sign with any team he chooses. It now looks like that choice won’t be in the NHL, as Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that Dynamo Moscow of the KHL have acquired Jaskin’s rights and are expected to sign him to a one-year contract.

Jaskin, 26, ended up playing just 37 games for the Capitals last season and found himself out of the playoff lineup altogether. Head coach Todd Reirden voiced his displeasure with the forward’s play at points, explaining a healthy scratch by pointing to his lack of versatility. It’s that lack of versatility that may have ended Jaskin’s NHL career for now.

Originally selected in the second round of the 2011 draft, it quickly looked as though the St. Louis Blues may have found a steal after Jaskin took the QMJHL by storm in 2012-23. Scoring 46 goals and 99 points in 51 games, he showed off a power forward ceiling that had scouts drooling. Unfortunately that kind of offensive opportunity rarely presented itself as he was trying to break into the NHL, and Jaskin didn’t seem to fit properly in the bottom-six. After several relatively disappointing seasons with the Blues, he was nabbed off waivers in October of 2018.

In Russia, perhaps he’ll get that chance to reclaim his place as a top offensive player beside talent like Vadim Shipachyov. There’s still lots of time to get his career back on track and an NHL return may not be out of the cards at some point.