Sharks Head Coach Explains What Yaroslav Askarov Needs To Work After Recent Demotion
San Jose Sharks star prospect goalie Yaroslav Askarov was sent to the American Hockey League, and head coach Ryan Warsofsky discussed what he needed to work on.
Nick Orozco - The Spear SJSU - Sharks Head Coach Explains What Yaroslav Askarov Needs To Work After Recent DemotionSan Jose Sharks star prospect goalie Yaroslav Askarov was sent to the American Hockey League, and head coach Ryan Warsofsky discussed what he needed to work on.
Askarov made 22 saves against the Los Angeles Kings and looked solid in the crease. He wasn't tasked with much, and he praised the defense in front of him after the game.
Warsofsky said sending the young goalie down would get him consistent playing time, and Vitek Vanecek is fully healthy.
"[Askarov is] a guy that can play the puck, and there's time to do it and not to do it, so he'll learn that," Warsofsky said. "I'd rather have that than having to develop that skill set."
Playing the puck got Askarov in trouble in his first start with the Sharks against the St. Louis Blues. He gave up a goal 11 seconds into the game after he turned the puck over.
Playing the puck wasn't the only thing Warsfosky wanted the 22-year-old to work on.
"The timing and the speed of the game in the NHL is a lot quicker than the American League, so he's just got to continue to be confident down there," Warsofsky said. "Make the big saves when he needs to, and make the easy ones look easy. We were really pleased with what he did during the two games."
Askarov heads back to the San Jose Barracuda and will be their No. 1 goalie. At the time of his call-up, Askarov was 6-3 with a .939 save % in the AHL.
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