Insider gives update on Yaroslav Askarov's situation with Nashville Predators

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Cooper Godin
August 16, 2024 (8:22 PM)

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Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has given an update on Yaroslav Askarov's situation with the Nashville Predators.

One of the top goaltending prospects in all of hockey, Yaroslav Askarov, has been been mentioned in trade rumours and those fueled back up last month as the Nashville Predators agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension with Juuse Saros that kicks in ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Askarov's path to the NHL and eventually being a starter is now blocked for the next nine years, should be remain in Nashville and Saros is with the organization for the entirety of his contract. With that being said, Askarov's name has been floating out there and in a summer edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman provided an update on the Russian netminder's situation with the Predators.

Friedman said that the Predators have said to teams what they think in terms of what the market is and what they're willing to offer for the young goaltender. He added that Askarov has told the Predators that he doesn't want to play another year in the American Hockey League and wants to be in the National Hockey League in the 2024-25 campaign.

He went on to mention that interested teams have begun exploring internally if it's worth making the move to acquire Askarov and if they have room for him to play in the NHL next season. Interested teams don't want to bring him to their franchise and for him to be unhappy if there isn't going to be playing time in the National Hockey League.

"I don't think that's [Glass trade] the only bit of business that the Predators are considering right now. I think the other one is Askarov, their young goalie that they have been, for several weeks now, they've kind of said said to teams 'Let us know what you think, what the market is for him,' because I do think they're going to do something." Friedman said.

He added, "I believe the one thing Askarov has indicated to both the Predators, and it's kind of been floating around league-wide, is that he doesn't want to go to the American Hockey League, he wants to play in the NHL next year. So I think there are some teams that are kind of looking at it like 'If we want to acquire this guy, we better make sure we have space to play him,' because there's no point in acquiring him if he's going to be unhappy or he's going to be uncertain about his future."

Askarov, 22, has spent the last two seasons in the American Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals since coming over to North America ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, but also has three NHL appearances under his belt. In the last two seasons, Askarov has proven that he is capable of being an elite goaltender and shown why he was the highest drafted goaltender since 2010. In each of his two seasons in the AHL, Askarov's numbers have been fantastic and essentially, there's nothing left for him to prove at that level and it's time for him to be given a full-time opportunity in the NHL.

Last season, the Omsk, Russia native had a record of 30-13-1 in 44 games with Milwaukee along with a 2.39 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and six shutouts. Meanwhile, in three NHL games with the Predators, Askarov is 1-1-0 with a 2.57 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

There likely won't be a shortage of teams interested in acquiring Yaroslav Askarov, including someone like the San Jose Sharks for example who don't have a standout goaltending prospect in their system. Askarov could come in and play right away for a young Sharks team that features some of the best prospects in all of hockey including Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

Source: Sports Illustrated
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