I don't think it's a matter of if Yaroslav Askarov is going to be traded from the Nashville Predators, but when. After Juuse Saros was signed to an eight-year deal, it sealed the fate of the young netminder with a ton of talent and potential. It isn't a bad problem to have and the Predators are in no rush, but there are more than a couple of teams that have already shown interest in acquiring Askarov from Nashville. KINGS' PRESENT & FUTURE IN NET One team that is trying to be competitive this season once again has a pretty big problem in net, now and potentially in the future. The future looks a little brighter, but the Los Angeles Kings are expected to run with Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich as the tandem next season. Pheonix Copley is a third-string option, but after his unlikely run in 2022-23, he regressed to the mean and played like many expected last season. The Kings went and acquired Erik Portillo from the Buffalo Sabres in March of 2023 and he looks promising, but he is also only one year out of university and completed his rookie season in the AHL last season. He posted a .918 SV% in 39 games and then a .916 SV% in eight playoff games, but he also has three more years of waiver exemption. Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros speaks to the media following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. Askarov only has two years left before he would have to go through waivers and he is one year younger, but he has also completed two full seasons of professional hockey as well. The feeling is that Askarov and his agent think he is ready to step into the NHL in a full time role as soon as next season. That is up for debate and there aren't many options without injuries where he could land via a trade and get that opportunity at 22 years old in 2024-25. The Kings are fairly competitive as they did make the playoffs last season even though they got worse over the offseason by losing some pieces. This seems to be a team hanging around the middle of the pack waiting to pounce like the Predators did with some big names and change the tide of their organization. There are some very talented young players in LA, but there are also some veterans nearing the end of their careers that are keeping the Kings competitive and out of the bottom of the league. By my estimation, the Kings are going to have to get worse before they get better, and for a young goalie, it is good to grow with a younger team to be able to break out in a big way around the same time. No goalie is a sure thing. That is what the potential worry may be with Portillo. At the very least, the Kings would have some tough competition and two young goalies duking it out for the starting role on a team that would be hoping to improve by that time. Don't get me wrong, Askarov is no sure thing either. But in terms of comparing him to other top goalie prospects in hockey and past goalies who have developed into the elite talent we see in the NHL today, he is on the right track. I don't expect a trade to be rushed from Barry Trotz and the Predators, but the expectation is that one will happen eventually and the Kings should be in the mix. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Andrew Gibson Makes Strong First Impression at Predators Development Camp [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/andrew-gibson-makes-strong-first-impression-at-nashville-predators-development-camp] Predators Defenseman Spencer Stastney Files for Arbitration [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-defenseman-spencer-stastney-files-for-arbitration] Marchessault: Nashville Predators Are 'a Team That Wants to Win' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/marchessault-they-want-to-win] Nashville Predators' Embarrassment of Riches is on Full Display [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-embarrassment-of-riches-is-on-full-display]
