The Nashville Predators and Juuse Saros are on the verge of coming together to sign the longtime goaltender to an 8-year contract extension with an AAV of $7.74 million. With that all but confirmed, Milwaukee Admirals goaltender and prospective goaltender of the future Yaroslav Askarov has posted a cryptic message on his Instagram stories which could be interpreted as the fact that he's ready to move on and would like Nashville to facilitate a move so he can continue his career elsewhere.
Askarov, a 22-year-old native of Omsk, Russia was drafted eleventh overall in the 2020 National Hockey League Entry Draft. It was perceived that he would be the goaltender of the future for the Predators much like Saros and Pekka Rinne as well as others before them who eventually moved on and created a name for themselves, albeit at a much smaller level. But this situation appears to be much different as it has already been determined that Askarov will spend at least one more season in the American Hockey League.
Although in reality, Askarov should be in control of at least part of his future when it comes down to where he wants to play. This situation feels a little weird in the sense that even if he gets buried in the minors in North America, he could have options available to him eventually if he wants them; specifically back home in Russia. But that's the nature of professional hockey.
