Today seems to be the day for top goalie prospects to sign their entry-level contracts. Just after the Minnesota Wild inked their own top goalie prospect, Jesper Wallstedt, to his entry-level deal, the Nashville Predators announced that they signed their own top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov to a three-year, entry-level contract. Askarov signed an AHL tryout contract with the Predators’ affiliate Milwaukee Admirals earlier this month, indicating that his full signing with the Predators would be coming soon. Now, the move is official.
Askarov, 19, is one of the top goalie prospects in all of hockey and also one of the highest-drafted goaltenders in recent years. He was the 11th pick in the 2020 draft, the highest pick since current Maple Leafs starter Jack Campbell went 11th to the Dallas Stars at the 2010 draft. Askarov has thus far spent his career developing in his native Russia, where he has starred in limited action at the KHL level. In nine games for SKA St. Petersburg in 2020-21, Askarov posted a .951 save percentage and a 1.21 goals-against-average, numbers that are reminiscent of Igor Shesterkin's and Ilya Sorokin’s KHL dominance but at a far younger age (albeit with a far smaller sample size of games). Askarov got into six KHL games this season, posting a .913 save percentage and a 1.81 goals-against-average.
With Vezina finalist Juuse Saros already entrenched as Nashville’s NO. 1 goaltender and under contract for at least the next three seasons, Askarov will have plenty of time to acclimate himself to goaltending in North America and should be afforded ample opportunity to develop at his own pace. Too many prospects have had their development tracks derailed by teams rushing them to the NHL out of necessity, due to that team needing the talent the prospect brings, however raw it may be at the time. Thankfully for the Predators, though, with Saros in net, it’s unlikely that will be an issue for Askarov. Instead, Predators fans can get excited about the next few years of Milwaukee Admirals hockey featuring one of the most promising young goaltenders in the sport.
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