Yaroslav Askarov's Big Breakout Season is Getting Closer

Franchise center? Check.

Franchise goalie? Check.

In just one summer, GM Mike Grier has checked off arguably the two biggest building blocks for his franchise.

As they often say, the night is darkest just before the dawn. For nearly two decades, the Sharks were one of league's best teams before an aging roster and cap constraints forced them into a rebuild. They've missed the playoffs in five straight seasons immediately following their exit from the conference final in 2019.

Now, the franchise is once again brimming with optimism. They got their franchise center after winning the draft lottery and picking Macklin Celebrini first overall in the most recent draft, and now they've acquired Yaroslav Askarov from the Predators.

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Related: Macklin Celebrini Makes the Sharks Relevant in Fantasy Again

The Sharks did a good job of pouncing once they smelled opportunity in the water. The future of their goaltending was in flux and Askarov had asked for a trade from the Preds. Juuse Saros' long-term contract and the signing of Scott Wedgewood to be their backup essentially blocked Askarov's path to the NHL.

Drafted 11th overall in 2020, the former World Junior silver medalist is considered one of the world's top young goalies. He's big (listed at 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4, depending on the source) and known for his quickness and athleticism.

Over the past two seasons in the AHL, he compiled a 56-29-6 record with a .911 SP and 2.55 GAA, and helped his team qualify for the playoffs both times. While he didn't win any awards in the AHL — those went to the Flames' Dustin Wolf — Askarov was considered one of the hockey's brightest, and his post-game celebration antics certainly caught some attention, too.

Related: It's Dustin Wolf Time in Calgary

The Sharks should be an excellent fit for Askarov. The franchise's best goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, is a fellow Russian and also currently their Director of Goaltending.

But, most importantly, there is a direct path for Askarov to play for the Sharks right away. Though Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek are both under contract for a combined $5.75 million, both will also be free agents next summer. Askarov is exempt from waivers; even if he doesn't start the season with the Sharks, inevitably, one or both of Blackwood and Vanecek will be traded this season. The trade for Askarov in itself is an indication that the Sharks may have found their long-term solution.

The Sharks used five goalies in 2023-24, three of whom are no longer with the team. Kaapo Kahkonen was swapped for Vanecek and subsequently signed with the Jets in the summer, Devin Cooley left as a free agent and signed with the Flames, and Magnus Chrona was sent to the Preds as part of the trade for Askarov. (Fun fact: Cooley and Chrona were teammates at the University of Denver previously).

I'm not sure Askarov's big breakout will come in the 2024-25 season. But we should certainly see more of him with the Sharks than we would've had he stayed with the Predators, and now it's question of "when" and not "if" we'll see him in the NHL.

I suspect if Askarov plays parts of the 2024-25 season with satisfactory results, the big bump in his fantasy value will come as soon as 2025-26. There's little reason for the Sharks to keep Blackwood and/or Vanecek beyond this upcoming season unless they play well or play some sort of mentor role to Askarov.

Askarov is not worth drafting in most fantasy leagues due to the continued uncertainty of his playing time in 2024-25. He certainly gets a bump since there was a chance he would see zero action as a member of the Preds, and he's at least worth keeping an eye on.

As a streaming option, Askarov certainly carries some risk because the Sharks are not expected to win many games again. However, their roster has vastly improved, and should they face, say, another potentially lottery-bound team such as the division rival Ducks, it's going to be really tempting to stream Askarov in that spot.

Askarov started just one game last season and recorded his first NHL win; he made 27 stops in a 3-2 shootout win against the Caps on Dec. 30, and stopped shootout attempts by Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The win also stopped a 1-3-1 skid with Juuse Saros shutting out the Hawks in the following game, helping the Preds win consecutive games for the first time in two weeks.

(For what it's worth, I did recommend rolling the dice with Askarov in that matchup in our daily waiver wire column for fantasy managers desperate for a start. That column will return for the 2024-25 season, so remember to bookmark this site for winning tips!)

Related: NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Expected Starters - Saturday, Dec. 30

In keeper leagues, however, Askarov has leapt at least a couple spots higher due to a relatively more unimpeded path. At some point, when Celebrini, Will Smith, Quentin Musty and the Sharks' impressive pipeline of prospects start making significant strides in the NHL, Askarov will become a sought-after goalie in fantasy hockey.

When do you think Askarov's big breakout season will come?

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