The Nashville prospect is making noise in Milwaukee, while Joakim Kemell and Dmitry Ovchinnikov are just getting rolling in the AHL.
His teammates call it "Rock Star Mode." That's when Milwaukee Admirals goaltender and Nashville Predators prospect Yaroslav Askarov does something somewhere between daring and bonkers in a game - but either way, you know it's going to be entertaining.
On Wednesday in Toronto, Askarov led Milwaukee to a 2-1 shootout victory that saw him dash out to the blueline to play a puck on the power play, make a number of excellent stops in regulation and then put on one of the most wild shootout performances ever. On the Marlies' first attempt, Askarov poke-checked Logan Shaw into oblivion (Shaw did not look pleased after), attempted another poke-check that disrupted Max Ellis, then had to do a precarious dance to keep out Nick Abbruzzese's shot from trickling over the line after making the initial stop. Three attempts, zero goals surrendered.
As for the Shaw poke-check, Askarov had sound logic for his move.
"He was coming in pretty quick and when you go that quick you can't control the puck really well," he said with the help of a translator. "I figured it might be a good opportunity for a poke-check. I'm always watching what shooters do."
Hyped for years, Askarov is now in his first season of pro hockey in North America. He already has four shutouts to his credit and a solid .912 save percentage with the Admirals. And even though he was taken 11th overall by the Predators in the 2020 draft, there's no hurry to make him an NHL regular.
"He's 20 - so he could be playing junior right now," said Milwaukee coach Karl Taylor. "We all have to tap the brakes a little bit and understand that. Coming from a different country, a different kind of hockey is a big step. He has progressed off the ice in terms of work habits, learning - all normal prospect stuff. He's very coachable and has received all our messaging. He has upped his gym work, his practise habits - so he's learning a ton this year and he's getting the results, which will feed him to do more. He's in a perfect spot, right where he should be."
Coming over from Russia meant adjusting both on and off the ice, but the affable Askarov is making strides. He's clearly made friends in Milwaukee, and his English is coming along nicely. He noted that the first couple of months were hard, but now he feels good.
"Every game I feel better," he said. "One day, one percent better. That's my strategy and that's what makes me feel comfortable in North America; just improving day by day."
Getting used to the cuisine in the U.S. has also been a process.
"Russian food is much better for me because my wife always cooked for me," he said with a laugh. "But American food's not too bad."
As for his swashbuckling style of netminding, it can surely make for some nervous moments on the Admirals bench, but the AHL is the perfect place to make mistakes when you're developing, as long as it doesn't cost your team the game.
"He has such a big personality and we don't want to put handcuffs on that," Taylor said. "So there's a real balance. He plays the puck very well. Were there a couple tonight we were all nervous on? For sure. But we don't want him to stop doing it. We're really careful about not squashing his personality and how big that is because it's a big part of how he plays and how he goes about his business. We all want people with confidence. We want people that understand what makes them good and he has a comfort level there."
As for that dash out to the blueline to play the puck?
"I just love to help my 'D' and my team," Askarov said. "I love to pass and play the puck."
Milwaukee and Toronto both got recent reinforcements from Europe, and it was great seeing them in action. Joakim Kemell scored his first AHL goal for the Admirals in just his third game with the team - all of which have been wins.
"Receiving him was a big help," Taylor said. "He's 18 - the same age as my son, which was a reality check. He's a very good player. He's got a great shot, great release and he has a lot to learn. This is perfect timing for him, coming into a situation where it's the end of the season and all the games are important with teams fighting for position. As a young man learning, what a great opportunity for him to come in and experience that run and be a part of it."
Taylor also appreciated what a competitive game the Finnish teen brought over with him, as Kemell has been using his body, executing Milwaukee's system and not shying away from the moment.
For the Marlies, left winger Dmitry Ovchinnikov made his Marlies season debut, coming back from the KHL (he played seven games for the Marlies last year), where he played all season with Sibir. Though he's listed as 5-foot-11 and 181 pounds, he still looks skinny on the ice, but the skills are undeniable. Ovchinnikov plays a quick, smart and skilled game and he wasn't afraid to initiate contact. Once he gets ingrained in the lineup, I'd love to see what he could do on the power play.
Finally, an idea from a scout that makes a lot of sense: Hold the NHL draft lottery before the world under-18s so teams that miss the playoffs can head into the tournament knowing which players they should really focus on. This year's lottery takes place May 8, while the under-18s end in late April. The NHL has announced that the first day of the playoffs will be April 17, so the lottery certainly could be earlier.