One consistent issue with the Toronto Maple Leafs has been their lack of depth outside of the core four. This offseason the Maple Leafs tried to fix this by bringing in Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi. While both of these players are good they have struggled with inconsistency in the past. Both are also only on one-year deals so even if they do well they could play themselves out of the Leafs' price range going forward.
With all of this in mind, the Maple Leafs need to start thinking ahead on contingency plans for their bottom six. Some of this could come from in-house options like Nick Robertson or Matthew Knies. It could also come from outside sources. One potential European free agent could be the perfect solution.
European hockey can be difficult to evaluate due to the varying strengths of different leagues. One league that has always been one of the best in the world is the KHL in Russia. This continues even with the conflict in Ukraine. One player currently in the KHL could be a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs.
Former NHLer Dmitri Jaskin is entering his second season in the KHL since leaving the NHL. In his first season, he was the captain of SKA St. Petersburg and put up 62 points in 67 games.
Now he is playing with Ak Bars Kazan and is off to a strong start with 11 points in 8 games. The 30-year-old was rumored to be looking at a return to the NHL this past offseason but ultimately stayed overseas. With his age and production in mind, Jaskin could be a good option for the Maple Leafs if they need depth scoring next season.
As Read On - Editor In Leaf - Toronto Maple Leafs: Top KHL Star Player Becomes NHL Free Agent
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Should the Toronto Maple Leafs sign Dmitri Jaskin? | ||
Yes | 447 | 56.4 % |
No | 346 | 43.6 % |
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