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Yaroslav Askarov, Spencer Stastney Named AHL All-Stars

Originally posted on Nashville Hockey Now
By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/10/24

The rosters for the 2024 American Hockey League All-Star Classic were announced on Wednesday, and a pair of Nashville Predators prospects and Milwaukee Admirals standouts made the cut as goaltender Yaroslav Askarov and defenseman Spencer Stastney were named to the Central Division roster.

Both players were ranked in Nashville Hockey Now‘s post-draft organizational prospect rankings with Askarov coming in at No. 2 and Stastney at No. 10.

Askarov is 10-6-1 with a .920 save percentage, a 2.12 goals-against average and two shutouts. He ranks second in the AHL in GAA, sixth in save percentage and 10th in wins.

The 21-year-old was also named the AHL Player of the Week on Monday after back-to-back shutouts against the Colorado Eagles over the weekend. It’s the third time Askarov has won the award.

Back-to-back.

Yaroslav Askarov records two straight shutouts totaling 56 saves pic.twitter.com/emqTxdNHl4

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) January 7, 2024

In addition to dominating in the AHL, Askarov also played in two games with the Predators at the end of December.

He stopped all six shots he faced in relief of Juuse Saros against the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 27 and he followed that up with a 27-save performance in a 3-2 shootout win over the Washington Capitals three days later, earning his first NHL win and becoming the second-youngest goalie in Predators history to win an NHL game.

Stastney has been equally impressive as Askarov, also earning a call-up to Nashville in mid-November and early December. Among Admirals defensemen, he has the highest plus/minus rating (+11) and he ranks fourth in goals (2) and points (11).

SPENCER STASTNEY FIRST NHL GOAL#MILhockey #Preds pic.twitter.com/hVhSV33UER

— Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) November 24, 2023

In his eight NHL games, Stastney scored one goal with a +6 rating while averaging 16:01 of ice time per game. Nashville was 8-1 with Stastney in the lineup and the team had a .968 save percentage with him on the ice.

The 2024 AHL All-Star Classic will be held in in San Jose, California on February 5 and 6. More than 94% of players who’ve played in All-Star Classic have gone on to play in the NHL.

This article first appeared on Nashville Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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