Yaroslav Askarov: "I Feel I'm Ready to Play Now"

Nashville's young goaltending star played the third period in the Predators' loss to Carolina on Wednesday night and credits his experience with growing his confidence in net.

Yaroslav Askarov played in the third period of Nashville's 5-2 loss to Carolina. Here is what Andrew Brunette and Askarov had to say about his performance.

Nashville Predators fans love the team's young goalie standout Yaroslav Asakrov, and last night they got to see the potential future of the franchise in net at Bridgestone Arena. Askarov came in to play the third period for the Predators who were down 5-2 after forty minutes of play.

This wasn't Askarov's first NHL game. He made his NHL debut back in January on the road against the Montreal Canadiens, and he has played preseason games at Bridgestone Arena, but last night was his first regular season playing time on home ice. His feelings about the experience were as big as Predators' fans excitement to see him play in net.

"It's always fun to play in Nashville with our fans," Askarov said after the game. "So always great emotions."

Askarov made six saves in his 16:40 of ice time and didn't allow another goal although there were some close calls. He was pulled in favor of the extra attacker with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

The 21-year-old Russian goaltender said last night's game felt different than his start in Montreal nearly a year ago.

"Right now I have more experience. Just played in the AHL playoff and played a lot in the last season and this season around fifteen games," Askarov said.

Askarov and the Milwaukee Admirals were playing postseason hockey into June falling just short of the Calder Cup Finals after a Western Conference Finals series loss to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The 48 regular season games in 2022-23 and the 12 postseason starts have helped Nashville's 2020 first round draft pick grow in both comfort and confidence in net. In his fifteen games this season for the Admirals, Askarov has earned a .908 save percentage.

"I feel more confidence in this year," Askarov said. "If we all look in the last year and this year, I feel more comfy and confident."

"I feel that I'm ready to play now."

Askarov has endeared himself to the Predators fan base with his more aggressive style of play, a style he said has changed a little bit. He also generates plenty of conversation when it comes to other NHL teams looking for a goaltender. At the 2023 NHL Draft, Askarov's name was mentioned as a potential piece in a trade to help Nashville move up for a top five draft spot, but a deal never materialized. Askarov is considered one of the Predators' most valuable trade pieces and in the right situation could bring Nashville a Tanner Jeannot type haul. Whether the franchise that drafted the nontraditional goaltender would actually be willing to part ways with such an important future piece remains to be seen.

With just 74:30 minutes of NHL ice time, Askarov's full potential is still of course a bit unclear. What is clear is how much his on ice talent and off ice personality appeals to the hockey audience and to front offices around the league.

With Kevin Lankinen listed as day-to-day with illness, Askarov is likely to return to Milwaukee sooner rather than later, but his sixteen minutes of playing time Wednesday night stirred the Askarov appreciation and speculation once again.