Trotz spoke about Nashville's young goaltender and why changing the color of his goalie pads may get in the minds of his opponents.

Nashville Predators goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov is playing some of the best hockey of his career right now. The 21-year-old goaltender recorded three shutouts in his last four games with the Milwaukee Admirals and got his first NHL win back on December 30 in a memorable shootout victory over fellow Russian star Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. 

General manager Barry Trotz is pleased with the development of Nashville's 2020 eleventh overall draft pick this season. Trotz talked about Askarov in an interview on 102.5 The Game yesterday. 

"Early in the year he looked like a young top prospect who still have some minor league in his game," Trotz said on the Stillman and Company show. 

"Around Christmas, it's changed. He's sort of got to another glass ceiling."

Trotz went on to point out one small change that Askarov made that could be affecting the way opponents see him in net. 

"I want to say that it had a lot to do with going from the black pads to the white pads because it's known to be a little bit of optics," Trotz said. 

"Wearing the black pads, he looks smaller than he really is. The white pads and white gloves and all that, he looks massive and that's playing into the minds of the opposition. Now they're looking for, trying to see the net and you can't really see it."

Trotz pointed out that people choose to wear black for its slimming effect and the same principle applies to goalie pads in net. Askarov has traditionally worn dark goalie gear.

Askarov is a tall goaltender at 6'3", but any extra advantage a goalie can get against shooters is beneficial. The pads and the play recently show Askarov is steadily improving. In his last four games, Askarov has faced 116 shots on goal and stopped all but two. With backup goalie Kevin Lankinen a UFA after this season,  Askarov and his white pads may be heading to Nashville in the near future.