The Nashville Predators have been one of the more active teams this off-season and are likely not done making moves.
After trading Cody Glass to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Predators have another young player’s future to determine in that of top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
“I don’t think [the Glass trade is] the only bit of business that the Predators are considering right now,” Friedman said on the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “I think the other one is Askarov, their young goalie that they have been, for several weeks now, they’ve kind of 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.”
Askarov has been a highly coveted prospect ever since the Predators selected him 11th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. Last season, he went 30-13-1, along with 2.39 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals and made two appearances in the NHL, where he had a 1.47 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.
One wrinkle for any team looking to acquire Askarov is that the 22-year-old wants to take the next step in his career as a full-time NHLer.
“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,” Friedman said. “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’s future in Nashville has been in doubt ever since the team signed Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension and brought in veteran backup Scott Wedgewood on a multi-year contract. Askarov posted on his Instagram story following the Saros deal saying, “Everything happens for a reason.”
General manager Barry Trotz did make it clear that he doesn’t envision trading Askarov anytime soon.
“We are aware of the report today and our expectation is for the player to report to training camp and compete for a job in September,” Trotz wrote in a statement to Jon Glennon of the Nashville Post.
Askarov is signed for the 2024-25 season on his entry-level contract which will make him a restricted free agent at the end of his deal.
Yaroslav Askarov, the highly-touted goaltender prospect for the Nashville Predators, has recently made headlines for expressing reluctance to play in the minors. The 19-year-old Russian netminder was selected 11th overall by the Predators in the 2020 NHL Draft and is widely considered one of the top goaltending prospects in the world.
Askarov’s comments come as no surprise, as he has been dominant in the Russian junior leagues and has already represented his country at the international level. Many scouts and analysts believe that he is ready to make the jump to the NHL and compete at the highest level.
However, the Predators’ goaltending situation is currently crowded, with veteran Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros holding down the fort in Nashville. This has led to speculation that Askarov may need to spend some time in the minors to further develop his game and adjust to the North American style of play.
Despite this, Askarov remains firm in his desire to play in the NHL as soon as possible. In a recent interview, he stated, “I want to play in the best league in the world, and I believe I am ready for that challenge. I have worked hard to get to this point, and I am confident in my abilities.”
It will be interesting to see how the Predators handle Askarov’s development moving forward. While it may be tempting to rush him into the NHL lineup, it is important to remember that goaltenders often take longer to develop than skaters. Patience may be key when it comes to grooming Askarov into a franchise goaltender for the Predators.
In the meantime, fans can look forward to watching Askarov continue to dominate in the Russian leagues and represent his country on the international stage. With his combination of size, athleticism, and technical skill, he has all the tools to become a star in the NHL. It’s only a matter of time before Yaroslav Askarov is making highlight-reel saves in Music City.