The San Jose Sharks completed a major trade today, acquiring goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov from the Nashville Predators.
In addition to Askarov, the Sharks also received forward Nolan Burke, and a third-round pick in 2025. Going the other way, the Sharks sent Nashville a 2025 first-round pick, prospect David Edstrom, and goalie Magnus Chrona.
Askarov is one of the NHL’s top goaltending prospects. The netminder was selected 11th overall by the Predators in 2020, and has spent the last two seasons with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Despite having just turned 22 years old, Askarov posted a .911 save percentage across 44 games with the team this season. However, with Juuse Saros extending in Nashville long-term, it essentially closed the door on a future for Askarov with the team.
Upon acquiring the netminder, the Sharks then signed Askarov to a two-year contract, carrying a $2 million cap hit. It’ll kick in for the 2025-26 season upon the expiry of Askarov's entry-level contract, at which point the netminder should have a full-time role with the Sharks.
In terms of what the Sharks gave up, the majority of the assets came from what the Sharks had already acquired in the Tomas Hertl trade. Edstrom was selected 32nd overall by the Golden Knights in 2023, and this past season, he scored seven goals and 19 points in 44 SHL games. Plus, with the first-round pick likely being Vegas' going the other way, there's a good chance it's a pick later in the first round anyways.
Overall, the Sharks come away looking really good from this trade. All signs point to Askarov being a future NHL starter, and despite how strong the Sharks’ prospect pool has become, they didn’t really have a goalie of the future lined up.
With Askarov also already closing in on being ready to take on a full-time NHL role, the Sharks could start to reap the rewards of the deal right away. The team does still have both MacKenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek signed heading into the year though, so it also gives them flexibility if they want to give Askarov a little more time to develop in the AHL.
It’s a really worthwhile gamble for the Sharks, as they continue to put the pieces in place to build into a long-term contender.
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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