And the Sharks board is saying Askarov has told them he is fine if they start him in the AHL this season... what a piece of shit.
He's ok with it because he's no longer playing behind a #1 goalie with an 8-year deal. Giving Saros the long-term deal was the start of all this. Why would Askarov want to burn a few more years in Nashville. At best, he kills it and becomes the backup. There's almost no scenario where he's the #1.
He didn't decide to give Saros the 8-year deal; Trotz did. Would anyone on this board in Askarov's shoes not rather play for another franchise with a reasonable path to being #1?
Yes, he made it public, and it worked. Had he not made it public, Trotz could have decided to keep insisting he needed more development, and he'd burn more years in Milwaukee.
Trotz got what he wanted (Saros for eight years), and Askarov got what he wanted (a potentially quicker path to the NHL). On top of that, we got a decent return for him, so it is what it is.
Demonizing Askarov for doing what's in his best interest isn't fair. Trotz did what he thought was in the team's best interest, not Askarov's.
The good news is that this does not affect this year since Askarov was never in the short-term equation. We'll know in a few years who was right on this deal.