karltonian
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- Jan 1, 2023
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Here's a better breakdown of his first NHL start.This was a really helpful breakdown if a bit overly casual. First NHL game so he was super jittery.
Very aggressive style, definitely needs to work on rebound control and picking his spots, "calming down" a bit. Honestly he was a bit lucky not to give up 2-3 more, but he did steal two. Preds were leaving him out to dry. Was a bit too reliant on his athleticism. Jonathan Quick came to mind for me too and some folks in comments agree with that + Fleury... super athletic, a bit all over the place, will have very low lows but hopefully also the same highs. Gonna be a gamble of a career.
Highlights:
I get both sides of it Askarov has no path to the NHL as a starter but at the same his ego got in the way as well because he’s not ready to be a starter in the NHL.It's just so weird to me that anyone needed to say anything other than, "Yeah, we're going all-in for the next few years with veterans, so we want the goalie who's in his prime right now for that."
But the Preds definitely were a little butt-hurt by the trade request so they had to say some shit. You can really see how someone like Trotz would feel that way. Askarov really ticks all the boxes for annoying the Trotz type: Russian, personality, self-assured, got some ego.
Anyway, I'm not complaining. Askaraov seems like the kind of guy who'll be motivated even more by all this. And even though it's not like the Sharks got some sweetheart discount deal, simply being able to get someone like Askarov is a huge coup. These guys rarely become available. It required a confluence of circumstances and Grier was able to swoop. I love it even if there's no guarantee of how good Askarov will be down the road.
In pro sports, both teams and athletes alike use leverage when they have it to get the most favorable outcome for themselves and the ones with no leverage often cry when it's used against them. If Trotz thought he could ink the goalie ahead of Askarov in the rotation and Askarov would be content to just compete for the backup slot knowing that he'd never have a chance to be the starter and wait for the Predators to trade him on the timeline most convenient to them, he's high on his own supply. The second he gave Saros that contract, he should have expected a trade request the next day. Any other player in that situation that has value around the league would have done the same. To pretend like Askarov did something beyond the pale there is completely arrogant. He knew he was going to be a free agent at the end of the season and he put the screws to them because he had no reason to wait another year because it was most convenient for Trotz.I’m guessing Trotz and Korn are pissed because time and money were spent on Askarovs development as well as drafting him and giving him an opportunity they invested that time on his development track and probably easing him into the league so he would have a high chance of being successful in the league.
Like a certain captain of a team Trotz coached to a Cup?But the Preds definitely were a little butt-hurt by the trade request so they had to say some shit. You can really see how someone like Trotz would feel that way. Askarov really ticks all the boxes for annoying the Trotz type: Russian, personality, self-assured, got some ego.
Ha, well, different circumstances, different players. Ovechkin was a long-established superstar by that point. Kuznetsov was a kid still, but maybe it was different with Ovie around as captain.Like a certain captain of a team Trotz coached to a Cup?
Kind of like having the last say as a "we told you so" if things go sour. So stupid.Ha, well, different circumstances, different players. Ovechkin was a long-established superstar by that point. Kuznetsov was a kid still, but maybe it was different with Ovie around as captain.
Who knows--maybe it's just goalies that aren't supposed to have personalities. Whatever it is, it all feels weirdly personal with Askarov, and the whole situation really unnecessary.
Given trots well over 2 decades of being a classy individual and this is the first time he’s ever had an “outburst” which is being completely overblown BTW (like no one’s ever been frustrated in their lives before) I’d say there may be more to this behind the scenes then we are aware of, given the widely and publicly acknowledged professionalism IE maturity problems Askarov has and has displayed all this vitriol being slung at Trots and Korn is probably misplaced. Hopefully the management can get Askarov locked in or it’s going to be a tale of wasted assetsIn pro sports, both teams and athletes alike use leverage when they have it to get the most favorable outcome for themselves and the ones with no leverage often cry when it's used against them. If Trotz thought he could ink the goalie ahead of Askarov in the rotation and Askarov would be content to just compete for the backup slot knowing that he'd never have a chance to be the starter and wait for the Predators to trade him on the timeline most convenient to them, he's high on his own supply. The second he gave Saros that contract, he should have expected a trade request the next day. Any other player in that situation that has value around the league would have done the same. To pretend like Askarov did something beyond the pale there is completely arrogant. He knew he was going to be a free agent at the end of the season and he put the screws to them because he had no reason to wait another year because it was most convenient for Trotz.
If they want to be pissed at someone, they can be pissed at themselves for creating the situation.
So when you order Quick on wish and order the Irbe puck handling optionHere's a better breakdown of his first NHL start.
- Better on the right levels of aggressiveness, still had some Quick-style sliding out of position
- A little less of an "adventure" in the crease, a bit more controlled.
- His athleticism and quick feet showed really well
- Was a bit slow to track an obvious "Ovie shot from the Ovie spot" and gives up a one-T goal to the legend.
- Likes playing the puck but may not be great (yet? ever?) at reading the play.
- Evaluator says "definitely NHL skillset and top prospect but still probably 2yrs from being a starter" which feels fair.
Wedgewood at $1.5 mill per over 2 years is a solid backup. If a team needed one, he stood a high chance of getting claimed if Nash opted to send him to the A and have Askarov as the backup. But, teams always want to be 3 deep in net. Option 3 is either a young kid or a veteran who is a NHL/AHL tweener. Chances of Wedgewood clearing was likely low, thus the logical option would be Nash sending Askarov down as he is waiver exempt. The 4th goalie is Matt Murray (but not the former Penguin), it's a 26 year old. So, if they lost Wedgewood, they wouldn't have a reliable 3rd option.Reading the article it sounds like Asksrov went to Trotz privately to ask for a trade and it was only after no movement on a trade did he go public about not reporting almost assuredly to press Trotz to make a deal.
It also mentioned their plan was for him to win the backup spot and have Wedgewood go to the AHL. I personally am not buying this. They would have screwed Askarov if he didn’t press for the trade.
I agree that the should have signed a capable 3rd goalie as I wanted the Sharks to have. My issue is them telling Askarov he will start in the NHL and getting upset when he didn’t believe them. There is no way Askarov would have started the season in the NHL. I don’t remember who gave the analogy but they just sound like an ex who can’t get over the breakup still telling them you will never find anyone better than me.Wedgewood at $1.5 mill per over 2 years is a solid backup. If a team needed one, he stood a high chance of getting claimed if Nash opted to send him to the A and have Askarov as the backup. But, teams always want to be 3 deep in net. Option 3 is either a young kid or a veteran who is a NHL/AHL tweener. Chances of Wedgewood clearing was likely low, thus the logical option would be Nash sending Askarov down as he is waiver exempt. The 4th goalie is Matt Murray (but not the former Penguin), it's a 26 year old. So, if they lost Wedgewood, they wouldn't have a reliable 3rd option.
Team POV, have to protect yourself as you can't bet on a rookie. If Sarros went down for 8 weeks, they'd be down to Askarov and Murray without Wedgewood.
I agree that the should have signed a capable 3rd goalie as I wanted the Sharks to have. My issue is them telling Askarov he will start in the NHL and getting upset when he didn’t believe them. There is no way Askarov would have started the season in the NHL. I don’t remember who gave the analogy but they just sound like an ex who can’t get over the breakup still telling them you will never find anyone better than me.
At this point I don't care what the Preds PR machine does. This is dumb.
From now on, I will only refer to Askarov as ShakiraHips dont lie
There would also be a golden opportunity to call another Sharks prospect Shakira, that's a good friend of Askarov... HmmFrom now on, I will only refer to Askarov as Shakira