“It’s great that Askarov moved to San Jose. He will get more minutes” – Kozhevnikov

Two-time Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov believes that the trade to San Jose will benefit the career of Russian goalkeeper Yaroslav Askarov.

Askarov was traded from Nashville on Friday, signing a two-year, $4 million deal with the Sharks that will begin in the 2025-26 season. He will continue to be on his entry-level contract, which he signed two years ago, for the upcoming season.

– God grant him luck. We should always wish our people luck, and we should wish luck to any people. We have many people who leave overseas before their time and then come back. They try themselves, but it doesn’t work out. He left and left. Let him try his luck. There is a native country, we will wait.

Askarov himself seemed to want the trade. There is little press about him, what is he like there. They don’t show the AHL here. God willing, he will try himself in San Jose, see if he likes it there or not. It’s great for Askarov that he moved to San Jose. He will get more time, he will prove himself. If everything works out, he will immediately go up. If the defense there is weak, God willing, he will be lucky. Good luck to him! — Sovetsky Sport quotes Kozhevnikov.

Askarov was selected by Nashville in 2020 with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. He has been with the club since 2022. Last season, the 22-year-old goalie played 44 regular season games in the AHL and saved an average of 91.1% of shots per game. In the NHL, Askarov played in three games and won one victory.