Why NHL’s top goalie prospect was available to Sharks in trade
Why NHL’s top goalie prospect was available to Sharks in trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Sharks made an ambitious move to expedite their rebuild, acquiring the NHL’s No. 1 goaltender prospect Yaroslav Askarov in a blockbuster trade with the Nashville Predators on Friday.
San Jose received Askarov, forward Nolan Burke and a 2025 third-round draft pick via the Colorado Avalanche from Nashville while sending the Predators center David Edstrom — a centerpiece of February’s Tomáš Hertl trade — a 2025 Las Vegas Golden Knights conditional first-round draft pick and goalie Magnus Chrona.
So how exactly did the Sharks — in dire need of a long-term solution in net — manage to acquire the league’s most highly touted goaltending prospect? The first domino to fall was Askarov’s request to be traded by the Predators, first reported by NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes on Monday.
Predators general manager Barry Trotz acknowledged Weekes’ report Monday but told The Tennessean’s Alex Daugherty that the team expected Askarov to attend training camp next month.
After Nashville signed incumbent starting goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension in July, Askarov’s path to significant playing time with the Predators got blocked, giving the Sharks a chance to land the coveted goaltender.
Shortly after aqcuiring Askarov, San Jose signed the 22-year-old goaltender to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.
In speaking to reporters, Sharks general manager Mike Grier revealed San Jose’s pursuit of Askarov began well before the completion of Friday’s trade.
“We’ve talked about him kind off and on over the whole year, probably,” Grier told reporters. “It came up probably a little bit at the draft, and then again afterward. He’s obviously a super talented goalie, and there’s not too many opportunities where you get the chance to go after a young goalie like this and add him to your group. We’ve kind of been in touch with them probably over the…
