There’s some goaltending news in the National Hockey League!
On Friday, the Nashville Predators traded one of the best netminding prospects in the league, while the Vancouver Canucks will need to lean on Artūrs Šilovs, at least throughout the preseason.
Let’s dig into that in the latest NHL Notebook!
Yaroslav Askarov traded to San Jose
It was a bit of a shock when the Nashville Predators re-signed goaltender Jusse Saros to an extension, as they had one of the best goaltending prospects in the league, Yaroslav Askarov. Well, the Predators traded Askarov to the San Jose Sharks on Friday afternoon. This came four days after he reportedly asked for a trade.
The Sharks also acquired a 2025 third-round pick and forward Nolan Burke. In return, the Predators received David Edstrom, a 2025 first-round pick belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights, and goaltender Magnus Chrona.
Starting with Askarov, the 22-year-old netminder was selected 11th overall in the 2020 draft. Last season with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, the 22-year-old right-handed catching netminder had a .911 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average in 44 games. In two National Hockey League games, he had a .943 save percentage and a 1.47 goals-against average.
Burke is a 21-year-old left-shot centre who spent his junior days with the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League. He agreed to terms with the Atlanta Gladiators of the East Coast Hockey League, scoring five goals and 15 points in 47 games.
Edstrom was selected 32nd overall in the 2023 draft by the Vegas Golden Knights and became a regular for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring seven goals and 19 points in 44 games. The centre was traded to the Sharks before the 2024 trade deadline, along with Vegas’ 2025 first-round pick for Tomáš Hertl.