We recently discussed 11th overall pick Sam Dickinson, but the San Jose Sharks brought in another high-profile former 11th overall pick into the organization this summer.
On Aug. 23, 2024, the Sharks made one of the biggest splashes of the NHL’s offseason when the team acquired goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. This trade has been dissected around the hockey world, mostly with rave reviews for the opportunistic deal by General Manager Mike Grier. The Nashville Predators, a playoff contender having done the most this offseason to maximize their Stanley Cup chances by signing free agents Brady Skjei, Jonathan Marchessault, and Steven Stamkos, were placed in a tight situation when their promising prospect goaltender requested a trade out of the organization.
Barry Trotz, general manager of the Preds, had inked perennial Nashville MVP Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension in July, effectively closing off Askarov’s path to a starting role with the Predators. Saros has been an elite goaltender for years and has continued the legacy of excellent creasework for the Predators that Pekka Rinne started. This new contract doesn’t even start until the beginning of the 2025-26 season and will most likely carry Saros’ career through its prime as a Predator. To make matters worse for Askarov, Nashville signed dependable backup Scott Wedgewood, meaning that Askarov was all but guaranteed to stay in the AHL for the majority of the 2024-25 season.
Askarov’s ask was warranted too, as he’s shown both the potential and current ability to take on a larger workload at the NHL level.
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 178 lbs.
Age: 22
Date of Birth: June 16, 2002
Draft Year: 2020 (11th overall by the Nashville Predators)
Catches: Right
2024-25 Team: San Jose Barracuda (AHL)/San Jose Sharks (NHL)
What we like
In Askarov, the Sharks now have a potential franchise goaltender. He has garnered high praise from the likes of Evgeni Nabokov and is considered by many as the best goaltending prospect in the world. In no uncertain terms, Askarov’s addition to the prospect pool elevated San Jose’s overall outlook to another echelon. The team already had built up a good core of potential top-six forwards and even had a few defensemen that could see steady top-four minutes soon. Despite some promising showings from Georgi Romanov and Magnus Chrona near the end of last season, the largest question mark in the prospect pool remained in goal.
Askarov is highly mobile, athletic, positionally sound and capable of playing with desperation. He can hold a deep stance and stay on his feet with an elite level of patience, then follow it up with precise movements laterally to make adjustments based on the threat of play.
Last season, Askarov played in 44 games for the Admirals, finishing with a .911 save percentage and 30 wins. The year before that, he played in 48 games for Milwaukee with another .911 save percentage and 26 wins. He has clearly figured out the AHL level and is ready for his next challenge.
Areas of improvement
For a talented goaltender like Askarov, who has proven himself capable at the AHL level, it is mostly just a matter of gaining experience at the NHL level. Askarov has only two NHL starts and three games played overall. Although he’s had plenty of AHL starts at this point, growth at the NHL level takes on its own curve. He’ll likely need to work through some tough times, especially if San Jose’s defense is anything like it was last season, before finding consistent success with the Sharks, but it’s not a question of if he’s capable – it’s when will it happen.
Some scouting reports suggest that Askarov may, at times, show his emotion too much. This isn’t to say he’s indicated that he could have too much of a temper to stay consistent or effective, but that the highs and lows might be too varied. Or, in other words, he cares a lot. There have been several top-tier goaltenders over the years who were known to openly express their passions and went on to have incredible careers. Having passion is not an impediment to great play, not even in goal.
What’s next for Askarov?
Askarov was unfortunately injured throughout training camp and preseason, so he has not had the chance to acclimate on the ice to San Jose’s system and simply to warm up to season-form. Because of this, Askarov will start the year with the San Jose Barracuda. Unlike with Milwaukee, there is no fear that Askarov would protest further AHL time in San Jose’s organization. That’s because, and with all due respect to Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood, the Sharks don’t have a Vezina candidate goalie in his prime locked up long-term.
While Blackwood and Vanecek, who have both looked sharp in preseason, take care of duties through what should still be a difficult start for the Sharks defense as it adjusts to a new coaching system, Askarov will have time to safely adjust to life in the Bay Area, playing behind an improved Barracuda roster. It likely can also help that he’ll be in tandem with a fellow Russian, Georgi Romanov, in goal.
Highlight
It’s likely that many Sharks fans haven’t had the chance to see what Askarov is capable of. This highlight list shows what he can do at his best. He covers the bottom part of the net so quickly and consistently and is able to rely on his quick reflexes to kick out the pads when in desperation.
Top 25 Under 25 so far
5. Quentin Musty
6. Sam Dickinson
7. Shakir Mukhamadullin
8. Filip Bystedt
9. Thomas Bordeleau
10. Henry Thrun
11. Kasper Halttunen
12. Igor Chernyshov
13. Luca Cagnoni
14. Danil Gushchin
15. Leo Sahlin Wallenius
16. Collin Graf
17. Jack Thompson
18. Ethan Cardwell
19. Cameron Lund
20. Eric Pohlkamp
21. Ty Dellandrea
22. Mattias Havelid
23. Jake Furlong
24. Georgi Romanov
25. Tristen Robins
Honorable Mention: Brandon Svoboda, Gannon Laroque, Brandon Coe, Carson Wetsch and Valtteri Pulli
