Jasinsky earns invite by Capitals

The Phantoms’ forward could see action in a NHL preseason game next week.

SPECIAL TO THE Vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN — Ryan Jasinsky of the Youngstown Phantoms has been invited to the formal training camp of the Washington Capitals.

Jasinsky, 19, took part in the Capitals’ rookie camp from Sept. 6-11. He was then invited for an extended stay by Capitals’ coach Bruce Boudreau.

Needless to say, Jasinsky’s deliberation time was rather short.

“Bruce Boudreau called me into his office and asked me if I’d like to stick around,” Jasinsky said. “I couldn’t say too much because I was so pumped up. Bruce said I really impressed them and did my job, and they wanted to reward me.”

The Capitals’ coaching staff, led by Boudreau, has a tremendous reputation for teaching, something Jasinsky has gotten a close look at this week.

“The whole staff does a great job making you feel comfortable,” he said. “They all know me and call me by my nickname [Jazz] even though there’s a lot of us here.”

As an official part of the Capitals’ extensive training camp roster, the Jasinsky (6-foot-3, 215-pounds) was placed on Team C as the team was split into three practice squads for a series of scrimmages and drills this week. For Jasinsky, that means skating alongside NHL defenseman Mike Green, a 30-goal scorer, and competing against Team A’s linchpin, two-time defending league MVP Alex Ovechkin.

“It’s just unreal,” said Jasinsky about sharing the ice with players he’s seen only on TV before this week. “Those guys are just in a different league out there. The passing and puckhandling is so much crisper than anything I’ve seen before.

“A couple of times on Tuesday I got put out against Ovechkin and [center Nicklas] Backstrom. My strategy was to get the puck as quick as I could, dump it in and go for a [line] change.”

The Phantoms are thrilled by Jasinsky’s grabbing the attention of the decision makers in the Caps’ front office and Boudreau, the 2008 Jack Adams Trophy winner for NHL coach of the year.

“We picked [Ryan] up because we thought he had pro attributes and the ability to make it to the NHL,” said Phantoms coach and general manager, Bob Mainhardt. “He’s obviously demonstrated that in Washington.”

At the same time, Youngstown’s braintrust is eager to see the Richmond, Va., native skating at the Covelli Centre sometime soon.

“We’re looking forward to getting him back in our lineup and sending him along to the NHL next year,” Mainhardt added.

For now, Jasinsky is scheduled to remain in camp with his designated squad while the rest of the Capitals travel to Buffalo today for their preseason opener against the Sabres. Washington is scheduled to travel to Chicago on Saturday and return home to the Verizon Center Monday for a return matchup with Buffalo.

“They told me they’d try to get me into at least one [preseason game],” said Jasinsky, who is being kept temporarily unaware of Washington’s future plans for him.

“I’m just taking it day-to-day and trying to make an even better impression than I already have.”