In a shocking turn of events, Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz found himself in a precarious position when his top goaltending prospect, Yaroslav Askarov, made it clear he didn’t want to remain with the organization. Askarov, a rising star at just 22 years old, had shown immense potential during his time with the Milwaukee Admirals, being named an AHL all-star in both seasons with impressive stats to back it up – an incredible 56-29-15 record with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
However, Askarov’s dreams of making it to the NHL were dashed when the Predators locked in star goalie Juuse Saros to a massive eight-year, $61.92 million deal, leaving no room for the young goaltender to secure a starting role. As a result, Askarov knew he had to look elsewhere for his chance to shine.
Despite Trotz’s efforts to keep Askarov in the fold and continue his development within the organization, the talented netminder was determined to seek a fresh start with a team where he could make an impact. This led to a trade that sent Askarov packing his bags to join the San Jose Sharks in exchange for centre David Edstrom, goaltender Magnus Chroma, and a coveted first-round pick in 2025.
Reflecting on the situation, Trotz acknowledged that, while things didn’t unfold as he had hoped, he believed the Predators received a fair return for Askarov. In his interview with TSN1050’s Overdrive, Trotz admitted, “[The situation] didn’t go down the way I wanted it to because when it’s public, smart general managers aren’t going to give you full price sometimes because you’re working from a little bit of a disadvantage. At the same time, I think then we got pretty fair value for the situation and I like what we got.”
Trotz also highlighted the shifting dynamics in the NHL, noting that young players like Askarov are now more empowered to make decisions about their careers than ever before. “I think will all young players, they have more power than they ever have before and they’re more bold,” Trotz remarked. “I could say that about all the young players who have spoken out [around the league] and say that they’re not going to play for certain franchises, or their situation wasn’t right for them. They’re all saying that they’re ready for the NHL right now.”
However, Trotz cautioned that just because a player believes they are ready for the big leagues doesn’t necessarily mean they are. Askarov’s limited NHL experience, with only three games played over the past two seasons, raised concerns for the Predators about placing too much trust in his potential at this stage of his career.
Despite Trotz’s best efforts to lay out a plan for Askarov’s progression in the NHL, the young goaltender’s desire to explore other opportunities ultimately led to his departure from the Predators. As the dust settles on this surprising turn of events, only time will tell if Askarov’s bold decision will pay off in his quest to establish himself as a top goaltender in the league.
