St. Louis Blues Final Grades: Dmitrij Jaskin

The St. Louis Blues, as a team, had a very solid year in 2016-17. However, individually, they continue to have players disappoint that had so much promise initially.

The St. Louis Blues are rife with players that were given lots of praise way too early. Yesterday we gave out the final grade for Jori Lehtera.

Lehtera is known for his disappointment at this stage of the game. He came out with a very strong rookie season, but has gone downhill since then.

Following in his footsteps is Dmitrij Jaskin. Jaskin did not necessarily have much pressure on him at the start, but he received way too much praise.

Then coach, Ken Hitchcock, discussed Jaskin’s talent as some of the most impressive he had seen in a prospect. With all the players Hitchcock had coached, you figured this guy was going to be it.

Granted, Hitch had not coached all the greats under his employ when they were prospects, but the guy still had an eye for talent most times. So far, unless something changes, it seems he overevaluated Jaskin.

At first, it could be chalked up to lack of time. When he was 19 and 20, Jaskin only saw a total of 20 NHL games. It was no wonder that he only managed two points over that time.

Then, in his first year where he got close to full playing time, he responded pretty well. 18 points was not going to light the world on fire, but 13 goals in 54 games was a pretty good start.

Again, like Lehtera, Jaskin has gone south every year since then. The following season, in 2015-16, he had 13 points and a paltry four goals.

2016-17 was even worse. Jaskin had health issues, but he was a healthy scratch plenty of nights as well.

He only saw action in 51 games. He only had one goal and 11 points. That is hardly living up to the potential laid out before him.

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Jaskin’s biggest problem is he shows you glimpses and brief flashes, but cannot find a way to even be a consistent third liner. In both the 2016 and 2017 playoffs, he showed why he was so highly touted.

Both times he scored a huge goal in winning efforts. He also used his size and strength to win board battles, slide past defenders and gain open space.

Like Lehtera and Patrik Berglund before him, Jaskin continues to be an enigma. As stated, you see glimpses, but they occur even fewer and farther in between than those other two. That is certainly saying something since Blues fans have been more than willing to give up on that duo at plenty of different times.

The Blues are at a stage where promise has to be fulfilled or it makes no sense to keep giving opportunities. There are enough guys coming through the system that show the same amount of promise, but have looked more likely to be a consistent performer.

At this stage of the game, nobody is asking Jaskin to be a top-six forward. It would be nice if that happened and perhaps like Berglund, he can bloom a little later than anyone originally thought. Jaskin is only 23 after all.

D-. You can’t go full bore and give an F because he came up big once in the playoffs and there are still glimpses of the player he might be. Might be has to become reality or his time is likely done though. It’s just not good enough, promise and praise or not.. Forward. St. Louis Blues. DMITRIJ JASKIN

For now, though, it just is not good enough. He’s a decent fill-in player, not breaking the bank at $1 million per season and capable when motivated. He’s just not looking motivated.

In the end, maybe he is what he is. Perhaps the flashes are the aberration and the mediocrity is what is real.

It’s hard to accept that, though plenty already have. There is always hope, but it is waning and the sun is about to set on his chances.

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