Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Capitals could always use more skilled forwards. Steve Moses is undeniably a skilled forward. According to reports, Moses is now available, as the record holder for most goals scored in a single KHL season has decided to try to play in the NHL.

Some big news out of the KHL — Steve Moses, who set a league record by scoring 36 goals this season, has left Finnish-based team Jokerit, the club announced on Wednesday. “Jokerit want to thank Steve Moses for three great years at the club,” the organization said, courtesy its website. “[We] wish him the best of luck for the future.” Moses, 25, has spent the last three years with Jokerit following a four-year career with the University of New Hampshire. Though undersized — 5-foot-9, 170 pounds — Moses is blessed with great skating ability and offensive instincts, which saw him score 70 times for Jokerit over the last three seasons. – Pro Hockey Talk

Moses went undrafted after graduating from the University of New Hampshire, where he put up some pretty good numbers.

Despite being small in stature, size doesn’t necessarily matter in hockey. Martin St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello, Brian Gionta, Nathan Gerbe, Cam Atkinson, and John Gaudreau are among those who are living proof that short players can make it in the NHL and be productive. All those players are smaller than Moses, by the way. So the Washington Capitals shouldn’t ignore Moses because of his size.

Here’s what his former teammate and current Toronto Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk had to say about his college teammate.

Van Riemesdyk, the Toronto Maple Leafs winger, says his friend is one of the most dedicated athletes he’s ever met and recalled him having a timer on his watch beep every two hours to remind him to eat as part of a specialized meal plan. Even though Moses isn’t particularly tall, van Riemsdyk says he’s thick like Toronto teammate Leo Komarov and should be able to withstand the physical rigours that come with playing on a smaller ice surface. “He skates like the wind,” van Riemsdyk told me. “He’s really well built. He won’t get thrown around over here.” – Sportsnet

The last paragraph is especially meaningful. Any time somebody who’s under 5’10” wants to play in the NHL, teams seem to use that as a crutch. I’ll admit that a lack of size can be a bad thing. However, it can also be a good thing. Being small can be a curse or a blessing. It all depends on what the player does with it.

The Washington Capitals don’t have that many skilled forward prospects. Considering Moses could be a top six forward, I think they should take a chance and sign Moses to a two-way contract for next season. He’s skilled and he has had success everywhere that he has gone. It’s the kind of low risk high reward signings that the Washington Capitals should be doing.