Former Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) defenseman Nikita Shchitov said the trade to San Jose would benefit the Russian goaltender’s career. Yaroslav Askarov .
Askarov was traded from Nashville on Friday, with the 22-year-old Russian signing a two-year, $4 million contract with the Sharks that kicks in for the 2025-26 season. The rookie contract he signed two years ago runs through the upcoming season.
— A great trade for Yaroslav. In Nashville, there were strong competitors for the goalkeeper position, and there were much fewer chances to make a name for himself than in San Jose. In California, he can fully develop, he remains a promising goalkeeper capable of playing at the elite level of the NHL. If he has the confidence of his coach and the help of his teammates, he can become the main goalkeeper of San Jose and build a decent career abroad. Not everyone manages to start there right away, many have reached the top thanks to the AHL, I would not be surprised if Askarov succeeds. It is good that he does not give up, now he has every chance to show his best qualities, “Shchitov told the correspondent.
Askarov was selected by Nashville with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. He has been playing in the club system since 2022. Last season in the AHL, the 22-year-old played 44 regular season games and averaged 91.1% shooting per game. In the NHL, Askarov has played three games and recorded one win.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
