Terrible blow to Yaroslav Askarov after big trade to San Jose!
This is not going according to plans after a big trade out of Nashville.
Highly-touted prospect goaltender Yaroslav Askarov wanted out of Nashville and got the Predators to trade him, earlier this offseason, to the San Jose Sharks. The netminder, along with forward Nolan Burke and Colorado’s 3rd round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft were sent to California in return for goaltender Magnus Chrona, forward David Edstrom, and the conditional 1st round pick of the Golden Knights in the 2025 NHL Draft in return. The Sharks immediately locked Askarov up to a two-year extension. The contract begins with the 2025-26 season. Askarov could have become a restricted free agent after this season.
However, things did go according to plans for the prospect goalie, who has just been cut from the Sharks’ training camp and have sent him down to the AHL.
Askarov has mostly played for Nashville’s American Hockey League affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, registering a record of 56-29-6 record with nine shutouts. He has minimal NHL experience, having briefly appeared with the Predators on three occasions and amassing a 1-1 record with a 2.58 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
After the Predators signed Juuse Saros to a massive deal, Askarov felt he couldn’t get the workload he was hoping for in Nashville and requested a trade out of Music City.
However, it does not look like he will be starting anytime soon in San Jose and that has to be a tough blow for the young netminder who moved across the country for a chance to be a top goalie in the NHL…
Askarov was selected by Nashville with the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old is 1-1-0 with a 2.58 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in three games over two campaigns with the Predators.
