SAN JOSE—Two years ago, new San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov was sent an Instagram video by Milwaukee Admirals teammate Cole Schneider of a young goalie, eight or nine years old, celebrating a win by doing pushups with the net, lifting the crossbar back and forth with his back on the ice.
“He said to me, please don’t do it,” Askarov said of Schneider’s message.
“I sent him (one) back, ‘I’m going to do that.”
Sure enough, after a 45-save shootout victory on Feb. 11, 2023, Askarov laid down with his back on the ice, pulled the net down, and began doing pushups with the crossbar.
“He’s got a personality, and I think that’s what this generation’s about, is they have personality,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said of Askarov. “I’m not going to hold him back. If he can walk the walk, he can talk the talk.”
The Sharks wouldn’t mind a little exuberance from the 22-year-old Askarov if he can develop into a bona fide No. 1 NHL goalie. Indeed, that was the hope when they acquired Askarov from the Nashville Predators in August, reportedly outbidding four other teams.
The Sharks sent prospect center David Edstrom, goalie Magnus Chrona, and a 2025 first-round pick originally owned by the Vegas Golden Knights to the Predators for Askarov, forward Nolan Burke, and a 2025 third-round draft pick previously owned by the Colorado Avalanche.
After the trade was completed, the Sharks quickly affirmed their belief in Askarov, signing him to a two-year extension worth $4 million to keep him under contract through the 2026-27 season. Askarov, who was drafted 11th overall by Nashville in 2020, is in the final year of his entry-level contract.
The deal happened just a few weeks after Askarov and his agent, Dan Milstein, formally requested a trade from the Predators in early August, per The Athletic.
The Predators had re-signed No. 1 goalie Juuse Saros to a long-term extension and inked journeyman Scott Wedgewood to a two-year deal to back him up. That left Askarov, one of the AHL’s best goalies the past two years, without a clear path to the NHL this season.
In 44 games for Milwaukee last season, Askarov was 30-13-1 with a 2.39 goals against average, a .911 save percentage, and six shutouts.
Still, the Predators felt Askarov needed more experience in the AHL and NHL before joining them full-time. Nashville general manager Barry Trotz wanted Askarov to work with the team’s new director of goaltending, Mitch Korn, to refine his game as he gained more professional reps.
Nevertheless, Milstein informed Trotz that Askarov would not report to camp. Askarov said he wanted the Predators’ plan for him to remain personal.
“It is our secret. I am going to keep it,” said Askarov, adding, “I need to work on everything. I need to get better every day and work (on) all kinds of stuff. Like legs, arms, (and) stance. Just getting 1% better every day.”
Asked about the events that led to the trade, Askarov did not wish to elaborate, saying, “I’m trying to keep focus on my game. (My agent and management), it’s not my focus. I try to keep focused on my game. That’s it.”
Asked if he felt he was treated fairly by Trotz and the Predators, the Russian-born Askarov said, “It’s hard to say now. I can (only) handle (so many) words because my English is not very (good). That’s why it’s hard to tell you. It’s a hard question. It is going to be hard to say. Sorry about that.”
Askarov, still working his way back from a recent lower-body injury that occurred before the start of training camp, will not play Sunday when the Sharks open the preseason at home against the Golden Knights.
It’s unclear when Askarov might be able to practice for the first time with the Sharks, but his injury is not considered serious, and the Sharks feel there’s no need to rush him back.
“He’s a great kid. Wants to learn,” Warsofsky said of Askarov. “He’s a competitor.”
Would Warsofsky be OK with another display of pushups?
“We’ll talk about that when he gets there,” he said.
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LIKELY NO HERTL: Although nothing official was announced by the Golden Knights, all indications were that former Sharks center Tomas Hertl would not travel with the team to San Jose.
Hertl spent the first 10-plus seasons of his NHL career with the Sharks before he and two third-round draft choices were traded to the Golden Knights for Edstrom and an unprotected 2025 first-round draft pick. Hertl’s contract had a full no-movement clause, so he needed to approve the trade.
Warsofsky, on Saturday afternoon, would not reveal his lineup or say who his starting goalie would be on Sunday. The Golden Knights will start Akira Schmid in net.
The Golden Knights’ first regular season game in San Jose will be on Dec. 27.
