What Yaroslav Askarov Learned in His First Season: "You Need to Be You"
Nashville's unconventional goaltending prospect shares what he learned in his first year of North American hockey.
What Yaroslav Askarov Learned in His First Season: "You Need to Be You"It has been a wild year for Nashville Predators' goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov. Selected by the Predators 11th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Askarov's much anticipated arrival in North American garnered a lot of attention when he took the ice at Development Camp last summer. Since then, Askarov has played 48 regular season and 12 playoff games for the Milwaukee Admirals and one NHL game with the Predators in January.
A lot has changed over the course of a year for the 21-year-old. Askarov's workload significantly increased over his limited ice time in Russia where he played just 15 games between the KHL and VHL in 2021-22. The transition to a new life in America and a new role on ice hasn't always been easy.
"It's a different country, different culture, different mentality, different hockey style," Askarov explained when asked what he had to learn this season.
Milwaukee Admirals head coach Karl Taylor acknowledged the challenges Askarov faced when he joined the franchise.
"He came in - new continent, new country, new culture. There's a lot of things he had to bite off. Forget about hockey. That's a lot right there."
Even with those on and off ice challenges, Askarov finished the regular season in Milwaukee with a .911 save percentage and helped the Admirals get to the Western Conference Finals. He also made his NHL debut with the Predators in a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on January 12. It was an exciting opportunity for Askarov, but one that tested his nerves.
"The first probably two hours [after being told he would start] I was so stressed. I was shaking," Askarov shared. "After a good sleep, good breakfast, good warm up, I did a couple saves and after a couple saves I felt way better."
"It's alright. It's same game. Same rules. Same puck."
Another thing that remains the same is Askarov's charismatic personality. After a shootout win last season for the Admirals, the spirited goalie bench pressed the net in celebration. On and off the ice, Askarov is unafraid to be himself.
"Sometimes people will love you. Sometimes people will hate you, and it's normal," he said. "It's just life. You need to be you."
He isn't afraid to joke about his antics either. When asked how much he can actually bench press, Askarov laughed.
"I'm a skinny guy. Not a lot. Look at me!"
With a full season under his belt, this rookie camp feels different to Askarov. He is more comfortable and confident on the ice and has built close relationships with his teammates off ice, especially a group of fellow Russians Egor Afanasyev, Fedor Svechkov, and Predators' forward Yakov Trenin.
"It was a lot of fun," he said of spending time with his Russian teammates. "We have so funny group. And when you have a couple more guys from your country, it's better because you feel more comfy here. And if you're good off ice you're good on ice too."
With those big first season adjustments behind him, Karl Taylor is looking forward to what 2023-24 holds for Askarov.
"The critical part for him is where does he go to now? You've got that base. Don't start over again. Start where he ended, and then build on that so you can stack the learning and stack your development."
Askarov will look to continue his growth at the Southeast Rookie Showcase beginning tomorrow. The Predators rookies will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning rookies at 3:00 pm CST.
