Jan 13: Askarov has been sent back down after making 31 saves in his NHL debut last night.
Jan 11: With Kevin Lankinen unavailable to dress for the Predators tonight in Toronto, they’ve brought up a top prospect to take his place as they announced that netminder Yaroslav Askarov has been recalled from AHL Milwaukee. In a corresponding move, defenseman Roland McKeown was sent back to the Admirals.
The 20-year-old was Nashville’s first-round pick in 2020 (11th overall), the highest a goalie had been taken in a decade. He was dominant in limited action in the KHL over the last couple of seasons and decided to make the jump across the pond for 2022-23. Askarov is off to a good start to his first season in North America, posting a 2.66 GAA along with a .905 SV% and two shutouts in 22 appearances with Milwaukee.
As for McKeown, this is his second trip to the minors this month, an assignment that was needed as Lankinen remains on the active roster for the time being and no word yet on how long he might be out; the team noted (Twitter link) that the move was for precautionary reasons. The blueliner has played in five games for Nashville this season – his first NHL action since 2017-18 – and has eight points in 25 games at the AHL level.
Although slightly off-topic, this comment is about a broadcasting legend in Nashville. I’d like to send get-well wishes to one “Voice of The Nashville Predators”, Pete Weber. Pete, we miss you and hope the procedure went well and that you can get back on the road to full health. { I just got off my Askarov to write this! :) }
P.S. Thanks to Bonesy for mentioning you in the broadcast tonight, so I could do the detective work!
@Mac – Well said! Pete hasn’t sounded well of late, so hope this gets him back to his old self. :)
Unfortunately, Askarov was unable to provide scoring to the Preds offense. :/
@Gbear—After Bonesy’s comment last night, I poked around and eventually found the article on the Preds’ site regarding his recent health challenges. Definitely scary stuff. Askarov may need to work on developing his stretch pass skills in a hurry, too. Just think how bad it would be without Saros, though.
@Mac – Notice a recurring theme with the Preds: “Just think how bad it would be without Vokoun”, “Just think how bad it would be without Rinne”, “Just think how bad it would be without Saros”.
Askarov may want to rethink his future. :/
@Gbear—I wholeheartedly agree there. They need to create a new refrain more along the lines of “When was the last time we DIDN’T hit 100+ points in a season?” As in, “We can do that in our sleep!” Sometimes it seems like GMDP is trying to adjust to the cap era in baby steps, while the consistently strong teams are in the fast lane passing them like they’re standing still. He’s not the only one, of course, but maybe a more aggressive change in philosophy would help. GMDP and the word “aggressive” haven’t been seen in the same sentence in how long, again?
@Mac – Those two words have not been used together since his early days as the Caps GM. :/
Was nice to hear Boomer Gordon take issue with Polie over this very subject recently. The more public scrutiny the better.
@Gbear—Wow, somebody outside the organization (and a noted media guy) taking issue with GMDP is news, for sure. Makes you wonder if people noticed he really can’t walk on water. Ever since that ill-fated “Easter Epic”, it’s been a somewhat rocky ride. As long as there are teams that are bullheaded, we’ll continue to see haves and have-nots, and seasons that have playoff seedings decided (mostly) by the All-Star break more often than not.
Who was the goalie taken that high a decade ago
Jack Campbell
Shame the Preds can’t find a scoring winger like that Tolvanen kid in Seattle. :/