Weekes: Askarov has informed the Predators he will not report to AHL team, asks for trade

[King In The North]

Doesn’t want the competition to prove himself? So what Saros is signed long term, he can be traded if you unseat him. Didn’t Vasi unseat Bishop in Tampa? Luongo shoved Kidd out the door, granted both examples weren’t signed long term, but I’m not a fan of this ask.

It's been pretty obvious the Preds have been trying to trade him for a few years now. What does he owe to them?

 

[CTHabsfan]

SJ, Montreal, or Colorado are my guesses. Could see Utah as a dark horse here.

Montreal doesn't need a goalie. The Canadiens already have Montembeault, Primeau, Dobes, three goaltenders from the 2023 draft, and one from the 2024 draft.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

What's the price?

How could I possibly know this

 

[Captain97]

I think the habs could stay away from a young long term bet if they feep confidently on that Fowler kid

Had great stats in NCAA, very young and likely 2ish years away

Not sure if they would want to get a guy like Askarov and find Fowler is as good as believed resulting in him being sold for scraps or wanting out due to being blocked like Askarov did with Saros

I think habs should target Ulmark on a 3 year deal this summer and that would let Fowler if hes legit to be 1A/1B by Y3 of that deal

Fowler looks very good but is also very young. He's probably 2-3 years away from being ready for back up/tandem duty. Then if he oans out and aquire Askarov we end up with a very good tandem and trade 1 when it becomes too expensive.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

What I wonder is Nashville has a good history of developing goalies. What do they know if they won't even give him a shot in the NHL? Is he simply not ready? Immature? Toxic and hoping he grows up a bit?

Or is this really a big misstep as it appears

He truly is not ready. I'm amazed at some of the hype and offers being made here by HF posters who don't watch him play. I do not believe NHL scouts or GMs will be this naive about him.

I do think he has generally had a good attitude though, he seems like a fun-loving and happy guy in general. His "antics" may make him seem a little bit immature (his hockey fights, body checks, celebrations, etc) but it's just part of his personality. I wouldn't call those things "toxic". He's just a bit hyperactive and unorthodox.

One problem is that his unorthodoxy does extend to his goaltending technique, however. It's one thing to have fast legs and flexibility that bails him out of some of his poor positioning and weak technique at the AHL level. But he does need to work on some of those flaws in his game in order to succeed in the NHL. Bailing out this soon on a golden opportunity to keep working on those things is a different kind of immaturity that is really going to set him back IMHO. The Preds hired Mitch Korn back, and there was a great opportunity there for Askarov to turn himself into a more viable NHL goaltender. If he isn't focused on doing that, then I think he is going to face a huge uphill battle to ever make the NHL.

 

[Fatass]

It's been pretty obvious the Preds have been trying to trade him for a few years now. What does he owe to them?

What do the Preds know about Askarov that has them trying to trade him for that long?

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

It's just about money. He's sick of making HVAC money when he could be making star athlete money and I don't blame him.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Canes 1st and a prospect for Askarov? what position of prospect does Nashville need?

 

[beardawg]

Dude is trying to rush his own development as if the coaching staff doesn't know better. What a crybaby

 

[PredsV82]

What I wonder is Nashville has a good history of developing goalies. What do they know if they won't even give him a shot in the NHL? Is he simply not ready? Immature? Toxic and hoping he grows up a bit?

Or is this really a big misstep as it appears

He's 22. He would have likely earned the backup job out of camp if he hadn't been so hasty.

Who's saying he is?

Poster before me called him "NHL ready" amd I was clarifying that he is NHL ready, maybe, as a backup

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

What do the Preds know about Askarov that has them trying to trade him for that long?

I wouldn't say they have been "trying to trade him". But they do know that he's not ready and still needs a lot of work and that means there is still a big risk factor associated with him. Or there was, even before this stunt I mean.

 

[TheBigLetowski]

Canes need to be all over this. Only PK signed after this year. Him and Askarov would be a solid 1-2 for years to come.

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

There are so many teams who should be calling Nashville.

LA should be doing so repeatedly. Columbus, Utah, Philly, Montreal, even teams like Seattle, Ottawa, Carolina and Colorado as a long-term option as they have goalies up next summer.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

I could definitely see them getting a late 1st + a decent RD/C prospect. But I'm a big Askarov fan

Absolutely. It still gets me that despite year after year teams failing because of goaltending.

And that whole goalies are voodoo is BS imo. Every player at every position can have an outlier season but goaltending is the only position in which some flashes in the pan get to define how they are viewed.

The truly good or even average goalies might have an off season or a career season like every position but just like forwards or dmen, they remain pretty consistent year over year.
Teams like Vancouver Nashville etc, have always viewed goaltending as a priority and now Nashville can upgrade somewhere else without hurting the team going forward.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Montreal doesn't need a goalie. The Canadiens already have Montembeault, Primeau, Dobes, three goaltenders from the 2023 draft, and one from the 2024 draft.

Eh, normally I'd says yes, but Askarov is a high end goalie. He's likely equal, if not better than Primeau at this stage.

Dobes could use another year mostly, if not entirely in the A.

Fowler could use this season and likely next in the NCAA.

Volokhin isn't coming over for another 2 years.

Miller is probably ECHL next year, then AHL.

Habs bring I'm Askarov, ship Primeau out and let Monty be the number 1, see how Askarov does and next year could be the deciding year between Askarov, or Monty, if it isn't decides by the end of this season. Thar gives a spot to Dobes as backup if he continues progressing as he is.

I imagine the Habs have some interest, but not desperately looking at him.

 

[Chileiceman]

Normally I don't like this kind of things form players, but in his case it makes sense. He will never be a starter in Nashville, the Preds made sure of that. So if ever wants to accomplish anything in his NHL career it will have to be somewhere else, so why wait to make the change? I could see a strong market for him, so the Preds should hope for a decent return.

 

[hellstick]

Guy's trying to maximize his earning potential. Can't fault him for doing that, whether he's ready for prime time or not. His playoffs weren't very good, but two overall solid AHL seasons under his belt. He just wants an opportunity, and it doesn't look like it's Nashville.

 

[Dr Pepper]

He's 22. He would have likely earned the backup job out of camp if he hadn't been so hasty.


Poster before me called him "NHL ready" amd I was clarifying that he is NHL ready, maybe, as a backup

That's probably all he expects at this point, yet the Preds still don't agree.

Hard to keep an optimistic outlook with your team if they keep showing they don't trust you.

 

[PredsV82]

There are so many teams who should be calling Nashville.

LA should be doing so repeatedly. Columbus, Utah, Philly, Montreal, even teams like Seattle, Ottawa, Carolina and Colorado as a long-term option as they have goalies up next summer.

Would definitely like a nice bidding war to break out.

 

[LivingRentFree]

Askforatradearov

 

[PredsV82]

That's probably all he expects at this point, yet the Preds still don't agree.

Hard to keep an optimistic outlook with your team if they keep showing they don't trust you.

Except he couldn't even hold the starters crease in the AHL playoffs. He probably could make it as a backup, but he has to prove he can outplay a career backup like Wedgewood first

 

[57special]

Besides a 1st which I don't think Nashville will get for Askarov unless bidding war or really desperate GM what would Preds be looking for?

Don't see why he wouldn't get a 1st. He's an early'ish 1st rounder who has developed well, not a bust.

 

[BigFatCat999]

Trotz wants a good NHL player OR a non-goalie prospect same age. No, I don’t have a source. Been talked about on Preds boards for a while.

 

[Craig Ludwig]

Wow didn't realize the Predators had signed Wedgewood for 2 years also to be in front of Askarov. This is also the last year of his ELC. I don't blame him at all here.

So many teams would want Askarov starting this year and give him 30+ games. Pretty much every contender that has goaltending questions (e.g. Colorado). Getting NHL games this year has multi-million dollar ramifications for his career earnings.

Exactly, signing Wedgewood for 2 years was an absolute slap in the face of Askarov. I would be pissed too. He has done his time in the AHL, hell he's been riding the buses for three years, making $80,000, how can you blame him?

 

[jackp0t]

I dont understand why people are saying he doesnt want the competition ?

Preds tried to trade him at the 2023 and 2024 draft both times. His agent discussed with management to find possible options. They clearly dont want him and dont see him as a Preds on the long-term. So you cant blame the kid from starting fresh in a new organization as soon as possible.