With Tom Wilson potentially out for a minimum of six games, the Capitals have been looking for players to fill out the rest of their forward lineup. Brett Connolly was bumped up to the top line and Nathan Walker slotted in on the fourth line.
But Capitals management had other plans, and Tuesday morning they claimed former St. Louis Blue Dmitrij Jaskin off waivers.
The Washington Capitals have claimed forward Dmitrij Jaskin off of waivers. #ALLCAPS https://t.co/wRkKBcpczE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 2, 2018
Jaskin was placed on waivers the same day as journeyman forward Chris Thorburn, and it appears the Blues are going for a younger lineup with the additions of rookies Jordan Kyrou and former Capital Zach Sanford.
The defensive forward has a cap hit of $1.1 million and the Capitals will likely have to do some juggling, such as putting Travis Boyd on long-term IR, to make his salary fit on their final roster.
Boyd pretty much has to go on long-term IR for this to all fit on the salary cap. Would think Kempny goes on IR now, too. Siegenthaler probably goes back to Hershey.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 2, 2018
Jaskin recorded 17 points in 76 games last season, and was a mainstay on the Blues fourth line.
According to Natural Stat Trick, Jaskin drives play… big time. In the three seasons where he’s had over 50 games played, he’s never had an even-strength shot attempts percentage lower than 52.7 percent.
Micah Blake McCurdy believed Jaskin would get claimed because he was one of the best defensive skaters in the league.
Dmitrij Jaskin is one of the best pure-defence skaters in the league, /he/ really ought to be claimed also.
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) October 1, 2018
One of the only, to be honest.
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) October 1, 2018
Look at this business. That second column is his isolated impact, after you take account of context. pic.twitter.com/kgUlGDu7VK
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) October 2, 2018
Jaskin is also friends with Dmitry Orlov, and they grabbed sushi with a few other Russians on the Blues.
Oh that's a smart claim on Dmitrij Jaskin by the Capitals right there.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 2, 2018
The Washington Capitals have claimed Dmitrij Jaskin off of waivers, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Jaskin, 25, recorded 17 points (6g, 11a) in 76 games last season with the St. Louis Blues. The 6’2″, 216-pound forward set a career high in assists last season and recorded 207 hits, which ranked 18th in the NHL. In 266 career NHL games, all with St. Louis, Jaskin has recorded 61 points (25g, 36a).
The Blues selected Jaskin in the second round, 41st overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft.
At the international level, Jaskin has represented the Czech Republic at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, as well as the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Championship. In the 2013 World Junior Championship, Jaskin led the Czech Republic with six points (3g, 3a). Jaskin also played in seven games for the Czech Republic at the 2018 World Championship and recorded seven points (4g, 3a), which was tied for the team lead.
Headline photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America
