Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is likely to make his official NHL debut in the coming weeks. Unhappy with his fate in the Nashville Predators organization, the 22-year-old Russian was traded to the San Jose Sharks on Friday.
Young forward Nolan Burke and a third-round pick in the 2025 draft are also headed to California. In return, the Sharks gave up a conditional first-round pick in 2025, center David Edstrom and goaltender Magnus Chrona.
Drafted in the first round (11e overall) in 2020, Askarov made the jump to North America in 2022 to join the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators’ farm team. In 92 games over two seasons there, he posted a 56-29-15 record, while posting a 2.55 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
The man who seemed without a shadow of a doubt the Preds’ goaltender of the future saw his fortunes change last month when the club’s management agreed to an eight-year contract extension for starter Juuse Saros, who has established himself among the elite at his position in recent years.
The 1er July, the general manager also hired assistant Scott Wedgewood, a sign that Askarov was likely headed to the American League once again. The young man has indicated in recent days that he wants to be traded, or he will refuse to return to Milwaukee at the end of the Predators’ training camp.
Askarov has already played three NHL games, but he will have the chance to establish himself full-time in San Jose, a club in the midst of a rebuild, which does not have an untouchable goaltender (Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood).
This transaction allows the Predators to get their hands, in a way, on two first-round picks, since David Edstrom was selected at 32e overall in 2023 by the Vegas Knights. They traded him to the Sharks last season.
In fact, the 2025 pick that goes to Nashville also initially belonged to the Knights. If it were to end up in the top 10 when it comes to setting draft ranks, the Sharks should give up their own pick in his place.
As for Nolan Burke and Magnus Chrona, they are destined for the minor leagues.