NHL Rumor Mill – August 23, 2024

by | Aug 23, 2024 | Rumors | 19 comments

Some suggested destinations for Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov, plus the latest on Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin suggested some possible trade destinations for Yaroslav Askarov

Nashville Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (NHL Images).

The 22-year-old Nashville Predators goaltender reportedly told the club that he won’t report to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee this season and requested a trade. 

Rebuilding clubs like the Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, and Utah Hockey Club topped Larkin’s list, followed by the Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I offered my take on the Sharks, Utah, Kraken, Flyers, Kings and Avalanche as potential trade partners earlier this week

Askarov wanted to be traded because he sees no path to the Predators this season. He wants an opportunity for at least a backup role with an NHL club. Going to another team only to be sent to the minors changes addresses but not his situation. 

If they’re interested, the Flyers and Sharks seem the best option for Askarov. The other clubs may have questions about their goaltending depth but they also have veterans under contract ahead of him in their pecking order regardless of his potential. 

Larkin mentioned the Canucks because of the questions surrounding the health of starter Thatcher Demko to begin this season. However, in last spring’s playoffs, they proved they could adjust with backups Casey DeSmith and Arturs Silovs. DeSmith has moved on to Dallas but Silovs is still there. If they acquire Askarov, he will end up back in the minors once Demko returns. 

TSN’s Dustin Nielson reports the Edmonton Oilers are keeping their options option regarding professional tryout offers. They’ve already had conversations with former Oilers defenseman Tyson Barrie

Nielson noted that Barrie is popular among his former teammates. However, he questions if he’s a fit given how their blueline is currently constructed. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barrie’s a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman who generates offense from the blueline but his defensive skills can leave something to be desired. That’s why they shipped him to the Predators before the 2023 trade deadline for Mattias Ekholm

EDMONTON JOURNAL’s Jim Matheson suspects the Sharks will trade Cody Ceci to a contender before the March 2025 trade deadline. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks acquired Ceci last weekend from the Oilers. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.







19 Comments

  1. Sabres and Flyers still seem to be sniffing around a trade including Farabee. He’d be a perfect fit in BUF, but the Sabres need to move future assets.

  2. Ceci is a plus player in each of his last 5 seasons over 3 teams. That streak likely to end.
    Barrie was often a healthy scratch in Nashville. Going to be tough to find a job
    Who is to say that Wedgewood won’t be moved. Askarov needs to sit down shut up and get in net

  3. RE; Yaroslav Askarov.

    The 22-year-old Nashville Predators goaltender Would be a Great fit with the rebuilding Sharks….❓

    There head of goaltending is Director,
    Evgeni Nabokov the former NHL Russian goaltender
    who maybe what young Askarov needs to help him out & get him on the right track

    they have Vitek Vanecek & Blackwood signed up for this year in goal as starter as starter and back up, so he could be a good fit in SJ..🤔

    • So much of this depends on what Nashville will take to move him. I am not sure San Jose will be willing to part with high picks, especially not a number one as long as they linger near the bottom.

      Sharks still have to decide what they are going to do with Vlasic.

      • Askarov’s problem is that teams have their goalies pretty much set for next year. Keep in mind that teams need only two with the big club. So it’s likely that the only way he gets to stay in the NHL is if a young goalie goes the other way. Which is apparently not what the Preds want,

        With Saros signed long term there’s likely no future for him in Nashville. May not be bad for him to go somewhere he’d be in the AHL for a year but would have a better shot at being #1 soon.

      • Yeah he needs to be in a new organization, even if it means he has one more year of AHL play. Too close to the season.

      • A trade with Preds & Sharks

        Maybe the preds look for a quality player that can step in and help them right now like on LD…
        thats if…. if Roman Josi is still out as they only have 6 d/men with Josh….❓
        or
        an other LD man like a 28 yr old Jake Walman or a 23 yr old Henry Thrun & a 3rd pick
        or
        preds only have 11 NHL forwards as of today…. A forward like X Pred MIKAEL GRANLUND😁 who put up 60 points last year….

        But Yaroslav Askarov, The 22-year-old an unproven NHL goaltender… but has potential to be good.
        So whats he worth……⁉️

      • Looks like the Sharks-Preds trade is happening today !

      • Not a bad return for the Preds. A recent first and a first next year.
        Considering that we’re in the dog days of summer it’s been an exciting week for us hockey fans.

    • The
      Trade has gone down with the Sharks & Preds👏

  4. Seems like the Flyers could make a deal for Askarov if Kolosov is going the other way. But Nashville may want no part of that fiasco.

    • Toronto St Pat,
      your Right…..👍

      To the Sharks…
      1/ Askarov Goaltender!!
      2/ 2025 3rd round pick ( Col)
      3/ F, Nolan Burk

      To the Preds…
      1/ F David Edstrom, a big 6ft 3 centre
      2/ Las Vegas, 2025 Conditional 1st round pick
      3/ G, Magnus Chrona, A 23 yr old Goaltender prospect

      Sharks get there young goaltender of the future,👌

      A Good trade for both teams Nashville are loading up for a run this year👍

      • I like it a little better for Preds.

  5. Yaroslav Askarov is a Milwaukee Admiral who has split duties in his 2 years.

    The extent of his NHL experience is 3 games over 2 seasons.

    The 2 goalies fans here keep talking about, Askarov and Boston’s Bussi are 17th and 13th respectively in SAV%., not exactly lights out sure things.

    Like it or not they are just prospects falling in the category of crap shoots.

    • The old guard in the NHL seems to be weakening! Players are deciding where and when they want to play! The most recent young players are examples of that! Gauthier,Askarov and now Mcgroaty! It wasn t that long ago that Matthew Tkaczuk and Johnny Gaudreau opened the door by leaving Calgary! It looks like a long time before the Flames recover!

  6. I’m curious why no one considers Chicago and n the running for Askarovs services.

    • The two teams are bitter rivals. CHI would have to seriously overpay to get him.

  7. I don’t know if anyone else is keeping track, but Williew has nailed three in a row.
    Nice work, Williew!

  8. I give up prognosticating except the following
    Sharks won’t finish last this year.
    Detroit makes the playoffs
    Flames finish last

    Times have changed . If a young unproven player went public on their displeasure on anything , never to be heard from again.