Predators' GM Chirps Recently Traded Yaroslav Askarov

The Nashville Predators traded top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks recently, in a move that turned some heads around the league. Having Juuse Saros locked in long term, Predators general manager Barry Trotz felt it was best for Askarov to start the season in the AHL, and the young netminder eventually asked for a trade.

While Trotz thinks Askarov is going to be an excellent goaltender, it turns out Trotz doesn't feel Askarov is mentally ready for the NHL. Trotz met up with The Athletic's Michael Russo and had this to say about the Russian netminder:

"Asky is going to be an excellent goaltender because he's got unbelievable athletic skills, and he's got a very confident personality - all that," Trotz told The Athletic's Michael Russo. "But if you talk to elite goaltenders, they won't talk about elite physical attributes. They'll talk about elite mentalities and elite mindsets and elite preparation and stuff like that. And I'm not quite sure that he's there yet.

"I know this just from years and years of working with (goaltending coach) Mitch Korn, who I think is the best in the business. The mental part, the physical part, the emotional part all have to get to a very mature state to have a lot of consistency in this game."

The deal included Askarov and forward Nolan Burke and a 2025 third-rounder sent to the Sharks in exchange for a 2025 conditional first-rounder, forward David Edstrom and goaltender Magnus Chrona.

The Sharks wasted no time signing Askarov to a two-year contract extension worth $2 million AAV. The deal kicks in next season. While Sharks GM Mike Grier thinks Askarov has a chance to play significant NHL minutes this season, Trotz on the other hand, not so much.

"You see some of the goaltenders, that they're just out of balance a little bit, and it's hard to get that consistency, but once they get that balance, they become very consistent, and they can be the top guy," he said. "So, I think Asky's not quite there yet. Will he be? Oh, yeah, eventually, if he puts the time in and does all the things that he needs to do."

The 22-year-old netminder went 30-13-1 last season in the AHL, and also 1-0-0 with the Predators, posting an impressive .943 Sv.% in two appearances.