Nashville Predators’ top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov has requested a trade. He said that he is not going to report to the Milwaukee Admirals if he doesn’t make the Predators out of training camp, so whether a trade comes before camp, after he’s been cut, or if he makes the team, sometime in the near future, he’s likely going to be traded this year.
A lot of teams seem to be interested, seriously or otherwise, but there are a few teams that stand out as top trade destinations for the top prospect. I don’t anticipate Askarov is going to be around Nashville for much longer and a potential future on one of the following teams seems like a solid outcome for him.
New Jersey Devils
Askarov is looking for a couple of things. The first is a future in which he can be the starter sooner rather than later, and the second is a chance to play in the NHL this season. The New Jersey Devils can absolutely offer a future as the starter.
The Devils parted with Akira Schmid this offseason and have Nico Daws in the system, but have to be secured in net moving forward as the rest of the team is young and ready to compete for a long time. Jake Allen is in his final season with the Devils and Jacob Markstrom has just two years left on his deal and will be 36 years old when his deal ends.
Related: Trotz Not Rushed With Askarov Situation: Expected to Take Time With Trade
By that time, New Jersey has to have a plan in place, and if Askarov thinks he’s NHL ready, he could get some games in with the Devils this season and earn the full-time backup role next season to lead into the role of the starter the following season. If Askarov turns out to be as good as many expect, the Devils would be set for a long time and not have to worry about who’s between the pipes.
San Jose Sharks
Switching directions to a team in a very different place is the San Jose Sharks. Mike Grier has been anything but quiet since becoming the general manager and made a lot of moves this offseason. One big question mark remains and it’s in net.
Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek will share the net this season if health holds up, but after that is Magnus Chroma who struggled mightily in his nine games in the NHL. He recorded a .894 SV% in the AHL in 31 games and even played two games in the ECHL last season. At 23 years old, he is not the answer for the Sharks in net. Someone like Askarov has the time to grow and become the starter as the team gets better and is ready to step into the playoffs.
Askarov could have a decent shot at playing NHL games this season for the Sharks due to struggles or injuries which have both occurred in Blackwood and Vanecek’s careers. There is a bright future for the Sharks and Askarov could lead that in net and possibly be the starter by 2025-26.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a bubble team that has had big troubles in net for a number of years now. Goaltending has gone downhill in a hurry since Jonathan Quick stopped playing like a Vezina caliber goalie and the team has gone through a handful of options since.
The only goaltender to note in the Kings’ system is Erik Portillo who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres in 2023. He’s 23 years old and put up a .918 SV% last season, but has yet to play an NHL game and is unsigned.
The Kings have no other options for the future with Darcy Kuemper under contract for three more years as well as David Rittich and Pheonix Copley signed for one more year. There may not be a path to play much in the NHL this season for Askarov if he finds himself in Los Angeles, but next season he should only have to compete with Portillo for not only a backup role, but more likely a split role as a tandem goalie.
Askarov is better off on a team where he will be given a chance to start in the next couple of seasons. That isn’t available to him in Nashville, but Barry Trotz isn’t going to rush into a decision on where the Predators will trade Askarov.
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