SAN JOSE—Two years in the past, new San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov was despatched an Instagram video by Milwaukee Admirals teammate Cole Schneider of a younger goalie, eight or 9 years previous, celebrating a win by doing pushups with the online, lifting the crossbar forwards and backwards together with his again on the ice.
“He said to me, please don’t do it,” Askarov stated of Schneider’s message.
“I sent him (one) back, ‘I’m going to do that.”
Certain sufficient, after a 45-save shootout victory on Feb. 11, 2023, Askarov laid down together with his again on the ice, pulled the online down, and commenced doing pushups with the crossbar.
“He’s got a personality, and I think that’s what this generation’s about, is they have personality,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky stated of Askarov. “I’m not going to hold him back. If he can walk the walk, he can talk the talk.”
The Sharks wouldn’t thoughts a little bit exuberance from the 22-year-old Askarov if he can develop right into a bona fide No. 1 NHL goalie. Certainly, that was the hope after they acquired Askarov from the Nashville Predators in August, reportedly outbidding 4 different groups.
The Sharks despatched prospect middle David Edstrom, goalie Magnus Chrona, and a 2025 first-round choose initially owned by the Vegas Golden Knights to the Predators for Askarov, ahead Nolan Burke, and a 2025 third-round draft choose beforehand owned by the Colorado Avalanche.
After the commerce was accomplished, the Sharks rapidly affirmed their perception in Askarov, signing him to a two-year extension price $4 million to maintain him below contract via the 2026-27 season. Askarov, who was drafted eleventh total by Nashville in 2020, is within the ultimate 12 months of his entry-level contract.
The deal occurred only a few weeks after Askarov and his agent, Dan Milstein, formally requested a commerce from the Predators in early August, per The Athletic.
The Predators had re-signed No. 1 goalie Juuse Saros to a long-term extension and inked journeyman Scott Wedgewood to a two-year deal to again him up. That left Askarov, one of many AHL’s finest goalies the previous two years, with no clear path to the NHL this season.
In 44 video games for Milwaukee final season, Askarov was 30-13-1 with a 2.39 targets in opposition to common, a .911 save share, and 6 shutouts.
Nonetheless, the Predators felt Askarov wanted extra expertise within the AHL and NHL earlier than becoming a member of them full-time. Nashville normal supervisor Barry Trotz wished Askarov to work with the workforce’s new director of goaltending, Mitch Korn, to refine his recreation as he gained extra skilled reps.
However, Milstein knowledgeable Trotz that Askarov wouldn’t report back to camp. Askarov stated he wished the Predators’ plan for him to stay private.
“It is our secret. I am going to keep it,” stated Askarov, including, “I need to work on everything. I need to get better every day and work (on) all kinds of stuff. Like legs, arms, (and) stance. Just getting 1% better every day.”
Requested concerning the occasions that led to the commerce, Askarov didn’t want to elaborate, saying, “I’m trying to keep focus on my game. (My agent and management), it’s not my focus. I try to keep focused on my game. That’s it.”
Requested if he felt he was handled pretty by Trotz and the Predators, the Russian-born Askarov stated, “It’s hard to say now. I can (only) handle (so many) words because my English is not very (good). That’s why it’s hard to tell you. It’s a hard question. It is going to be hard to say. Sorry about that.”
Askarov, nonetheless working his method again from a current lower-body damage that occurred earlier than the beginning of coaching camp, is not going to play Sunday when the Sharks open the preseason at dwelling in opposition to the Golden Knights.
It’s unclear when Askarov would possibly be capable to apply for the primary time with the Sharks, however his damage shouldn’t be thought-about critical, and the Sharks really feel there’s no must rush him again.
“He’s a great kid. Wants to learn,” Warsofsky stated of Askarov. “He’s a competitor.”
Would Warsofsky be OK with one other show of pushups?
“We’ll talk about that when he gets there,” he stated.
LIKELY NO HERTL: Though nothing official was introduced by the Golden Knights, all indications had been that former Sharks middle Tomas Hertl wouldn’t journey with the workforce to San Jose.
Hertl spent the primary 10-plus seasons of his NHL profession with the Sharks earlier than he and two third-round draft decisions had been traded to the Golden Knights for Edstrom and an unprotected 2025 first-round draft choose. Hertl’s contract had a full no-movement clause, so he wanted to approve the commerce.
Warsofsky, on Saturday afternoon, wouldn’t reveal his lineup or say who his beginning goalie could be on Sunday. The Golden Knights will begin Akira Schmid in internet.
The Golden Knights’ first common season recreation in San Jose will likely be on Dec. 27.
Initially Printed: September 21, 2024 at 4:41 p.m.
