Askarov, 20 (6/16/02), was named to the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic on Wednesday after beginning his first professional season in North America with a 13-6-2 record, 2.66 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. The 6-foot-3, 178-pound goaltender is fourth in the AHL in wins (13), and among qualified rookies, is first in victories, sixth in goals-against average and seventh in save percentage. He's recorded two shutouts - tied for the most among AHL rookies - in his last seven starts, including the first of his Admirals career on Dec. 9 at Hartford, a 24-save performance. Askarov won 10 of 11 starts from Oct. 28-Dec. 1 and has helped Milwaukee sit second place in the AHL's Central Division with a 20-11-0-2 record (42 points).
Originally drafted by the Predators in the first round (11th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Askarov was the third goaltender ever selected by the franchise in the opening round of the draft; the Omsk, Russia, native also became the sixth Russian-born goaltender to be selected in the first round in NHL history. As an 18-year-old in 2020-21, Askarov posted a 1.21 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in nine KHL appearances for SKA Saint Petersburg - leading league U-21 goaltenders in both categories - while recording a 5-4-0 record and one shutout. Askarov made history on Nov. 27, 2019 by making his KHL debut at the age of 17, becoming the second-youngest goalie to ever start a game in the league. He owned an 8-5-2 record, 1.48 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in 16 career KHL performances; at the VHL level, Russia's second-highest professional league, he went 19-8-6 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
The right-catch goaltender has also starred internationally for his native Russia on several occasions, including at three editions of the World Junior Championship. He earned silver at the 2020 World Juniors and featured prominently in two of Russia's international tournaments in 2019, winning gold at the U-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and taking home silver at the U-18 World Championship. During the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Askarov made 35 saves in the championship game against Canada and finished the tournament with a 1.25 goals-against average and .960 save percentage. Despite playing against competition a year older than him, he earned Best Goaltender honors in the U-18 tournament and made 26 stops in Russia's overtime loss. He also backstopped Russia to a gold medal in the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he was named a tournament all-star.
To celebrate Juuse Saros being named to the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, the Predators are offering a special All-Star Promotion, a $74 package that offers two upper-level tickets to Nashville's game on Jan. 16 vs. Calgary or Jan. 17 vs. Columbus, $20 in GNASH cash and a Saros digital player card. More information is available by going to NashvillePredators.com/AllStar.
