It seems that the general managers are back from their summer vacations and are getting back to the business of getting their rosters ready for the 2024-25 NHL season. On the heels of the Yager-for-McGroarty deal from Thursday, another highly-touted prospect is on the move. Yaroslav Askarov, considered by some to be the top goaltending prospect in the league, has his trade wish granted as the Nashville Predators shipped him off to San Jose for some players and a draft pick. Nashville then signed the 22 year-old netminder to a two-year extension.
This was not a one-for-one deal like the week’s previous transaction. Askarov, Nolan Burke, and a third-round pick (previously held by Colorado) sashayed to San Jose in exchange for Magnus Chrona (yes, the same Magnus Chrona that was once a member of the Lightning organization), David Edstrom, and a first-round pick (previous held by Vegas). It was a solid return for Barry Trotz, who not only replaces Askarov in the system, but also picks up a first-round pick. San Jose does have the option of flipping the pick to their own if Vegas’ pick ends up in the top 10 for the 2025 draft.
Edstrom isn’t a bad addition either. Fear the Fin had him ranked as a middle-of-the-road prospect back in March. Much like the first-round pick, Edstrom was part of the trade package for Tomas Hertl at the deadline last season. The center is playing in Europe, but could be a nice depth forward for the next generation Sharks. Chrona was going to compete for the back-up spot in net for the Sharks, but will likely get the starting role for Nashville’s AHL affiliate in Milwaukee to start the season.
Askarov gets out from behind the log jam and will be in the mix for NHL minutes in San Jose. MacKenzie Blackwood is the nominal starter for the Sharks and Vitek Vanecek is also on the roster. The selling point for Askarov is that both of those netminders are only signed through this season and could be on the move at some point during the year (Vancouver could be interested in Blackwood’s services with Thatcher Demko recovering). San Jose acquires their goaltender of the future to go along with the young core of forwards they’ve stockpiled during their rebuild.
Burke is an undrafted center who put up some big numbers in his final two seasons with the Sarnia Sting (141 points with 84 goals in 120 games) but spent most of his first professional season with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL where he had 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) in 47 games.
Overall, another tidy little deal that benefits both sides. Trotz was able to trade a potential holdout for some very useful players and what should be a mid-to-late round first round pick. He can use that pick to keep the farm system stocked or use it to reinforce the team at the trade deadline. The Predators currently have 3 first-round picks and 2 second-round picks in the 2025 draft. Yes, two of those picks belonged to the Lightning at one point with a first-rounder from the Tanner Jeannot deal and the second-rounder from the second Ryan McDonagh trade.
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Nostalgia time courtesy of Erik Erlendsson.
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Long shots for the NHL Awards [The Athletic]
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