The Logical Move for Predators is to Marinate Askarov in AHL Next Season

Yaroslav Askarov is not ready to be an NHL starter or even split time in net in the NHL as a tandem yet. This is not a knock on him, but the Nashville Predators' top goalie prospect is only 21 years old and has much more development ahead of him.

It is rare for a goalie to come in and make a big impact at Askarov's age and it shouldn't be expected of any netminder. Fortunately for the Predators, who are a competitive team and only building to get better, Juuse Saros is still under contract and Kevin Lankinen will potentially be back.

General manager Barry Trotz stated that "you can never over-marinate goaltenders", speaking about Askarov. Some goalies who turn out to be very good in the NHL don't get their shot until 23 or 24 years old and after 3+ years of development or marination in the minors. He is ahead of most goaltenders at his age, but there is still no need to rush him considering the young goalie has only had two full seasons for the Milwaukee Admirals and posted a .911 SV% in each.

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Trotz said that he's talked to representatives for both Saros and Lankinen about extensions and would love for both to come back. But as the GM notes multiple times when talking about players coming back, "numbers will have to fit."

The Predators have a good amount of cap space to work with and when a team has an elite goaltender like Saros, you keep him because there are no guarantees. Askarov is a talented young goalie, but moving Saros to let Askarov come up is rushing his development and will hurt him. More importantly, the Predators are contenders with Saros and know what great goaltending the team will get with him. At the NHL level, Askarov has played three games. This is not nearly a sample size large enough to judge what the Predators have in the NHL for the long-term yet.

So many of the best goaltenders slowly build up their confidence before stepping into the starting roles. The closest example to home is Saros. He spent three seasons as a backup and then one splitting time down the middle behind Pekka Rinne before taking over as the starter. It didn't matter that Saros put up a .921 SV% across the three seasons as a backup either. He was young and his confidence was built up. He slowly increased games each season until he took over as the starter. Following the same trajectory that worked so well with Saros should also work with Askarov.

This is why there should be no rush to get rid of Saros. Askarov and Saros can co-exist in Nashville for a number of years before something has to be done. This is a recipe for success and with Lankinen potentially in the mix for next season, it gives the Predators the opportunity to see the proper development through.

To further push this point that Askarov could use another season in the AHL before stepping into the backup role is his showing to kick off the playoffs in Milwaukee. He started the first two games and posted a .840 SV%. Troy Grosenick took over and is starting now.

Askarov is exempt from waiver until 2026-27, so there is lots of time for him and the Predators. This time needs to be utilized and it sounds like it will be.

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