Winnipeg Jets prospect Dmitri Rashevsky has made it clear: he is playing the next two seasons for Dynamo Moskva of the KHL.
In February, Winnipeg Jets prospect Dmitri Rashevsky signed a two-year contract with the Kontinental Hockey League's Dynamo Moscow.
Selected 146th overall in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft by Winnipeg, the now 22-year-old made it clear in a report published in Russian by AllHockey.ru by Alexey Belous that he is more comfortable growing his game in his native country, rather than heading overseas to Canada.
"I like everything in Dynamo, that's why I signed a new contract," Rashevsky said through Google Translate in the AllHockey.ru article. "I was in touch (with Winnipeg), but at the moment I consulted with my family, agent and coaching staff; everyone was of the same opinion that it was better to stay."
The St. Petersburg, RU. product is the fourth-highest paid forward on Dynamo for the 2023-24 season, with his annual salary coming in at 30 million rubles - or $315K USD.
Later speaking in a one-on-one with MetaRatings.ru's Dmitry Levin, Rashevsky hinted at a strong preference of playing within the NHL, as opposed to the possibility of being sent down to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
"Yes, but how can I go there if I don't show a stable game in Russia?" he said via Google Translate, when asked if there was a possibility of going to Winnipeg.
"Of course, I want to go there under the first team, and not in the AHL. When I get stronger, I will collect my reserve, I will go there."
And on the idea of only signing a one-way contract?
Rashevsky said that he might consider signing a two-way deal, but with "certain conditions".
Having skated for Dynamo in each of the past three seasons, the 22-year-old seemed to find his way in the professional game in 2021-22 He scored 19 times and added another 16 assists for 35 points in 48 games.
He matched his 19 goals last season and finished with 38 points in 64 games, but did go a significant stretch without scoring a single goal.
"When the puck does not go into the goal for 24 games, you forget about efficiency," he added in his interview with MetaRatings.ru.
"This is psychological. When you score regularly, you think that it will be permanent. And when you can't score for 24 games, you forget about your scoring instincts and think you'll never score again."
Rashevsky admitted that playing 68 total games last season wore on him physically, but he is training to be better prepared for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with Moscow.
"Last season, the calendar became tighter, there were more matches and workload," he shared. "This involves studying me from the side of the opponent, the ability to play against me. This will happen for the third and fourth seasons as well. The opponent will know how to patronize me and what I am capable of.... I myself relaxed a little: I thought that a super hockey player is able to score as much as he wants. It turned out not to be the case, which caused a recession. This will be a lesson for me."
With a minimum of two more seasons until Winnipeg fans will get to see Rashevsky in the Polar Night Blue Jets uniforms, further development in the second-best professional men's hockey league in the world should only help the youngster further.
At least that's his train of thought.