The San Jose Sharks top goalie prospect will get an extended look in the NHL due to an unfortunate injury.

There hasn't been a better time in Yaroslav Askarov's career to solidify that he can be in the NHL full-time than now with the San Jose Sharks. 

Askarov is 1-0-1 with a .927 save percentage in two NHL games this season. In 14 games with the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League, the 22-year-old owns a 9-4-2 record, a .938 save %, and an even 2.00 GAA. He also has three shutouts.

When asked if this is the best time for him to be able to stay in the NHL for a long time, Askarov said, "That's my goal right now."

Vitek Vanecek will be out multiple weeks with an upper-body injury after taking a puck to the head during Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets. Vanecek was the backup goalie and was hit on the bench by a puck that had been deflected. 

"Terrible luck. Feel for the kid," Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Wednesday. "We got a stick on a puck, and it goes flying into a bench and he takes one up high. It's unfortunate."

Askarov had a few things the coaching staff wanted him to work on after he was sent down.

"Just keep it going. Work on everything," Askarov said."Try to [stay] sharp [with] some details and stuff, and keep it going. I just try to stop the puck. Just keep it simple."

Askarov was emotional when he discovered that the San Jose Sharks had traded Mackenzie Blackwood to the Colorado Avalanche.

"I had a good relationship with him. That was emotional for me, a little bit. It is what it is. This is hockey life," Askarov said. "He's a good guy. He's a good goalie. We will keep in touch."

Askarov was appreciative of Blackwood's never-ending positivity toward him.

"I tried to do the same thing with him and stay positive," Askarov said. "It was a fun time with him."

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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