Yaroslav Askarov has every right to ask for trade from Nashville Predators

If you thought the Nashville Predators unhinged offseason was over, think again. Their top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov has requested a trade.

Per an initial report from Kevin Weekes, Askarov has requested a trade from the Predators. Apparently he's not interested in a position battle with journeymen goaltender Scott Wedgewood?

Let's be honest here; we should've all seen this coming. Going back to the 2020 draft, I questioned Juuse Saros already slotted as the top dog behind Pekka Rinne. And at that point had done nothing to lose faith in him as the replacement to Rinne.

Here we are now. It didn't take Doc Brown's time machine to see this coming. Askarov, who is a very outspoken and confident individual, wants out. I don't blame him.

So Predators GM Barry Trotz holds strong that he expects Askarov at training camp, which is around a month from now.

Ok, this is a bad look for the organization. There are teams out there who would be glad to add Askarov to their team. But Trotz has to be careful not to cave. I've said this for a month now, Trotz holds the cards here.

With that said, Trotz doesn't have the same strong position as he once had. Askarov is asking for a trade and is desperate to get out, and that lowers Trotz's leverage. Other general managers see this.

In the end, this has to get done quick. You can't have this hanging over the head of the organization. It's an eyesore. When Trotz signed Scott Wedgewood in free agency, he sent a signal he had to see was coming. He doesn't need Askarov, the 2020 draft pick that was 11th overall.

A lot of people are already calling this Trotz's first major error of his general manager tenure. We'll see about that. But I will say that I don't fault Askarov at all for wanting a trade.

Askarov is betting on himself. You can never fault anyone for doing that.