Toronto Maple Leafs: Top KHL Star Player Becomes NHL Free Agent

The Toronto Maple Leafs should look to Russia to help finish off their roster. That’s because NHL rights have expired on the Kontinental Hockey League’s (KHL) top star from last season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost a number of players to the KHL, but if they have an interest in acquiring anyone from the league, it should be Dmitri Jaskin. He’s proven that he’s finally come into his own and can handle the big stage of the NHL.

Playing with SKA St Petersburg, Jaskin recorded 40 goals and 22 assists in 67 games. (All statistics are from Elite Prospects.)

That made him both the league’s top goal scorer and their leading point scorer. That’s not new for Jaskin who had previously won a KHL Top Sniper Award and a Golden Helmet as one of the league’s best five players. He has blazed his way to undeniably call himself the KHL’s top player.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Top KHL Star Player Becomes NHL Free Agent

As amazing as he’s been, Jaskin has more value than many even realize. He didn’t just lead the league through his on-ice play, but he also led his team as a strong dressing room presence. Jaskin was St Petersburg’s captain, where he proved his importance to the organization both on and off the ice.

At the conclusion of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs had an opportunity to make their move and recruit Jaskin. They have done a good job in the past of bringing over talent from the KHL like Ilya Mikheyev and Alexander Barabanov. If the  Leafs were able to bring Jaskin, he would have made an excellent addition.

Perhaps, with the drama surrounding the exit of Kyle Dubas and being replaced by Brad Treliving, the timing wasn’t ideal for an acquisition out of Russia.

Jaskin’s contract expired at the end of last season and he signed a new one with AK Bars Kazan. Their season has already begun and the 30-year-old right winger has picked up right where he left off. In the first seven games, he has already potted four goals and three assists making him a point-game-player who continues to rip pucks past opposing goalies.

If the Leafs were successful in recruiting Jaskin, it wouldn’t be his first foray into NHL hockey. He was actually selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He went 41st overall.

Jaskin spent six years with the Blues, where combined, he played in 266 games. He just wasn’t able to get his game going in St. Louis. In his time there, the winger scored 25 goals and 36 assists. He then played a year for the Washington Capitals, recording two goals and six assists in 37 contests. The NHL just wasn’t the right place for Jaskin at that time. It’s likely why he chose to go to the KHL in 2019-20.

Jaskin played two season for Dynamo Moskva where he scored a combined 69 goals and 54 assists. With more confidence behind him, he tried the NHL one more time. Unfortunately, he went to the Arizona Coyotes where he wasn’t surrounded by a strong group of teammates. That season, Jaskin played in 12 games and only managed to get a single point off an assist.

If Jaskin made one more attempt at the NHL by joining the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, things could be much different. If Tyler Bertuzzi doesn’t return for a second season, his vacated spot could be the perfect place for Jaskin. Playing alongside excellent players and shielded by a second line of very talented Leafs, the KHL star could finally prove to himself and his fans that he can make a big impact in the NHL.

The Leafs need to do everything they can to build the best roster possible next season. Jaskin may just be the player they’re looking for to take them to the next level.