June 9: Jaros has now officially signed a one-year contract with the KHL club.
May 30: A few months ago, Christian Jaros cleared unconditional waivers and saw his NHL contract with the New Jersey Devils terminated. That made him an unrestricted free agent, but one that had limited options as the trade deadline had already passed. The 26-year-old didn’t join another league but now may be on his way overseas.
Reporting out of Russia has Jaros linked to Avangard Omsk of the KHL for next season, which would be a notable foreign addition to the league. Many players from other countries have signed contracts elsewhere, not wanting to be involved with Russia while the invasion of Ukraine was ongoing. If Jaros does sign, it would be his first experience in the KHL, having previously played in the SHL, AHL, and NHL as a professional.
For years, Jaros has been a key part of the Slovakian national team, participating in three World Championships and helping the country qualify for this year’s Olympic Games. That’s where they won their first ever hockey medal, finishing third and taking home the bronze. Notably, Jaros wasn’t included in the World Championship roster this year.
If he does end up in the KHL, it could very well be the end of Jaros’ time in the NHL. The young defenseman has 94 games under his belt including 11 this season with the Devils but hasn’t been a regular season the 2018-19 season.