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Around the NHL: Yaroslav Askarov traded to the San Jose Sharks
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Aug 24, 2024, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 23, 2024, 20:30 EDT
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The start of pre-season is under a month away now!
In recent times, prospects have been traded, including one of the best goaltending prospects in the world. Moreover, an established goaltender will seemingly miss pre-season due to an injury.
Let’s dig into all of that in the latest Around the NHL!

Rutger McGroarty traded to Pittsburgh

It was reported in late June that Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Rutger McGroarty had asked for a trade. Well, his wish became a reality, as the Jets traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Brayden Yager on Thursday.
McGroarty, who signed his three-year entry-level contract shortly after the trade, was drafted 14th-overall in the 2022 draft by the Jets. In his sophomore season at the University of Michigan, he scored 16 goals and 52 points in 36 games, up from the 18 goals and 39 points in 39 games in his freshman season.
It’s unclear what prompted the 20-year-old to ask for a trade, as the Jets’ general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said that the player’s camp said that it “didn’t feel right” with no further explanation.
Yager was also drafted 14th overall in the following draft. The 19-year-old right-shot centre scored 35 goals and 95 points in 57 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2023-24. In the post-season, he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 20 games, helping the Warriors win their first ever Western Hockey League championship. They fell in the semi-final of the Memorial Cup to the eventual winners, the Saginaw Spirit.

Yaroslav Askarov traded to San Jose

Earlier this week, another prospect, netminder Yaroslav Askarov, asked for a trade. This one has a bit more merit, as he’s one of the top goaltending prospects in the league and ready to play in the National Hockey League.
Well, the Nashville Predators honoured his trade request, as they shipped him, along with a 2025 third-round pick and Nolan Burke to the San Jose Sharks for David Edstrom, Magnus Chrona, and a 2025 first-round pick originally belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights. (If Vegas’ pick is top 10, San Jose has the option of sending their own 2025 first-rounder to Nashville instead.)
Askarov was selected 11th overall in the 2020 draft and posted a .911 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average in 44 games, along with a 30-13-1 record with the Predators’ American Hockey League team. The 22-year-old netminder is a rare right-handed catcher had a better season than his 2022-23 season with the AHL team, where he had a .911 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average in 48 games played.
The Sharks needed help between the pipes and Askarov will certainly give them that. With that being said, they lost a solid prospect in Edstrom, who was acquired along with the 2025 first-round pick the Sharks sent to Nashville in the Tomáš Hertl deal with Vegas at the 2024 trade deadline.
We’ll see how long it takes the Sharks to be competitive again, but the rebuild is looking good so far.

Vancouver goaltender Thatcher Demko will miss pre-season

According to Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko won’t be ready for training camp and pre-season games, and he’s questionable for the regular season opener.
This is a pretty sizable loss for the Canucks, especially if the 28-year-old isn’t healthy enough for opening day. Last season, Demko had a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average in 51 games, along with a 35-14-2 record. In terms of personal achievements, Demko finished second in Vezina Trophy voting.
More importantly, Demko’s strong play helped the Canucks reach the post-season in a non-COVID impacted season for the first time since 2014-15. The Canucks finished with a 50-23-9 record for 109 points, first in the Pacific Division and sixth in the National Hockey League.
Towards the end of the season, Demko suffered a knee injury and missed time. Returning for the post-season, he injured the same knee but a different injury. Artūrs Šilovs took over the reins in the post-season and pushed the Edmonton Oilers to Game 7 of the second round thanks to an .898 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average.
It looks as Šilovs will start the 2024-25 season until Demko is healthy.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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