In dramatic fashion, the top prospect for the Nashville Predators and former 11th overall pick from 2020 has demanded a trade from the organization, first reported by Kevin Weekes on Monday.
You would think that the Predators should have no problem getting this trade done before training camp starts, which is about a month away. The problem is, GM Barry Trotz doesn't have the same strong leverage that he once had before Askarov went public with his trade request.
Trotz has been seeking out trade partners to deal Askarov for a while now, including this past year's NHL Entry Draft when it was rumored that Trotz wanted to move into the top-10. Nothing ever fully materialized, but there was at least inquiries.
With the bulk of the free agency moves now behind us and a lot of teams already finding their goalies for 2024-25, the market is much smaller for Askarov. However, he is young and still unproven on the NHL level, so any team that takes him is betting on his long-term future, and not so much the immediate future of 2024-25.
Here's three teams that make sense for both Trotz and Askarov to do business with on a trade. And no, the Chicago Blackhawks are not going to be on this list because that would be insane to risk keeping Askarov within the division. He could haunt this organization for the next decade. No thank you.
1. San Jose Sharks- Current Goalies: Vitek Vanecek, MacKenzie Blackwood
A young, rebuilding team who is years away from seriously competing is an ideal landing spot for a goalie prospect like Askarov. One that has a high ceiling, but will likely go through plenty of growing pains before reaching his full potential in the NHL.
The Sharks should be ringing Trotz's phone relentlessly to try to make a deal for Askarov. They could get their franchise goalie of the future, while continuing to build their young talent around him.
Additionally, the Sharks have plenty of cap space to work with for the Predators to even sweeten the deal and free up more of their own cap space. Maybe by adding Dante Fabbro into the mix, which would free up another $2.5 million for the Predators.
In return, the Predators would have to get a really good prospect of their own or a proven starter from the Sharks. The Sharks don't have a ton of high talent that would be upgrades from what the Predators already have in their starting lineup, so the prospect route makes more sense in a trade with the Sharks.
A prospect like Quinten Musty would get the job done for me, but I realize that might be shooting high. But again, Trotz has made it clear the asking price is high for Askarov, and Musty is coming off a 102-point season in the OHL and his playing style fits what the Predators organization wants as a high-motor winger with offensive skills through the roof.
2. Los Angeles Kings- Current Goalies: Darcy Kuemper, David Rittich, Pheonix Copley
Another Paicific Division team, but a much different situation for Askarov to potentially join. The LA Kings are a playoff caliber team for 2024-25, but have serious uncertainty among there goalies.
Kuemper was acquired in a trade back in June with the Washington Capitals in return for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Kuemper is a serviceable placeholder to open 2024-25, but is he the long-term solution for the Kings? That's where a link to Askarov could come into play.
Unlike going to San Jose, going to LA for Askarov would mean a goalie battle just like he is facing in Nashville. However, the difference is I give Askarov a decent chance to win the backup role to Kuemper.
Copley and Rittich are both 32-years-old and only signed for one more year with the Kings. Askarov could be there backup for the next couple years behind Kuemper to build his NHL experience and prove himself.
The Kings again would have to dig into their prospect pool to make a trade with Nashville happen. I'm not really in love with anything they have to offer that's equal value to Askarov, so it might take a current NHL starter to move Trotz to do business with the Kings.
Maybe Alex Turcotte, the 5th-overall pick from 2019? He plays center as well, and we know the Predators are thin at that position.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets- Current Goalies: Elvis Merzlikins, Daniil Tarasov
The best match out there for Askarov and the Predators might very well be the Columbus Blue Jackets. They're a young team with a long road ahead to compete at a high level, but their prospect pool is promising and they appear to at least be trending in the right direction.
When you look at Columbus' current goalie situaiton, it's wide open. Tarasov has promise and in 24 games last season put up a commendable .908 save percentage. He has gotten his feet weet in the NHL while Askarov has only appeared in three games.
Merzlikins is the expected 1A starter and carries a heavy cap hit of $5.4 million. He has spent his entire NHL career with Columubs and has 177 starts for a .904 save percentage. But his past two seasons have been horrendous and Columbus is kind of stuck with him right now.
Columbus could be a great landing spot for Askarov to be a 1B goalie right out of the gate in 2024-25, and eventually down the road overtake the primary top role as the franchise goalie.
Again, the Predators would expect a prospect on Askarov's level or a proven NHL starter. I'd prefer the Predators to get younger in an Askarov trade, so I like the thought of getting back a player like Dmitri Voronkov.
Voronkov can play wing or center and is a big body at 6'5". He finished 11th in the Calder Trophy voting this past season with 34 points in his rookie season. He's a physical player as well with 83 hits and 48 blocked shot while also seeing time on Columbus' power play.
This is probably shooting way high, but I'd consider throwing Dante Fabbro into the trade mix and trying to acquire in return David Jiricek. The 6th-overall pick from 2022 and Columbus probably doesn't want to part ways with him. But if you're giving them a potential franchise goalie along with a replacement veteran in Fabbro, they might bite.
Other Teams to Consider
The Hurricanes have been brought up as a potential suitor because they have uncerainty with Frederik Andersen's health and long-term viability. They really like Pyotr Kochetkov, and more and more teams are turning to a 1A/1B approach with their goalies. Unlike the Predators who yet again will probably ride Saros for over 60 starts.
This is the best case scenario for Askarov. To land on a team that's willing to give him 50/50 starts with another young goalie. Then he can put his aspirations to the test and prove it, something that he's not willing to do in Nashville by going to the AHL again for the Milwaukee Admirals.
The Utah Hockey Club is an intriguing one. On the surface it makes little sense with Conor Ingram really performing well for this franchise, and Karel Vejmelka being no slouch in his own right.
Askarov going to Utah would mean at best he's going to be sharing starts with Ingram, but that's only if he can beat out Vejmelka, which I'm not so sure about that. What makes Utah so intriguing for the Predators is they have loads of assets that would make trading Askarov really easy.
I don't think it's the best situation for Askarov, but if Utah dangles a prospect like Dmitri Simashev then I'm on board. Simashev is a 6th-overall pick from 2023 who has elite speed and skating a big body at 6'5" and already has experience in the KHL.
Finally, I have to put a full stop on trading Askarov anywhere within the Central Division. I've seen the Chicago Blackhawks brought up, and while that would be a match for Askarov and they do have assets to offer in a trade, I just can't see Trotz taking that risk of Askarov coming back to haunt them for years to come within the division.