Report: Yaroslav Askarov Will Have Strong Demand From Any Team That Trades for Him

When the Nashville Predators locked up No. 1 goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year extension earlier this summer, the writing was on the wall immediately for top netminding prospect Yaroslav Askarov. The Preds made it clear that they would start to listen on offers for the young 'keeper.

The 22-year-old has spent the bulk of the previous two seasons dominating in the American Hockey League, and has had only three looks at NHL action over that time. And while he doesn't hold a lot of leverage, still being on his entry-level contract, he's apparently made it clear that he has had enough of the AHL, and any team that's considering trading for him better have a slot in The Show for him.

Elliotte Friedman explains on the 32 Thoughts podcast:

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 are going to do something.
I believe the one thing Askarov has indicated to both the Predators and (other teams).. it's kind of been floating around league-wide, is that he doesn't want to go (back) to the American Hockey League. He wants to play in the NHL next year.

With that, Friedman says, there are some interested teams that are looking at it and saying to themselves, "'if we want to acquire this guy, we better make sure that we have space to play him,' because there's no point in acquiring him if he's going to be unhappy."

No doubt, as Askarov is entering the final year of his entry-level deal, and will become a restricted free agent at the end of next season, teams don't want to be caught in that situation with an unhappy camper.

Over the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, the former #11 overall selection by the Preds in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has posted a .911 save percentage with a 2.54 goals against average and nine shutouts, six of them this past year.

In his two game appearances with Nashville this past season, he posted a .943 Sv% and a 1.47 GAA.