Askarov could be playoff asset for AHL’s Barracuda

SHARKS

The Sharks’ Jan Rutta, left, and Mikael Granlund battle for the puck with the Predators’ Filip Forsberg during Tuesday night’s 7-5 Nashville victory. MARK HUMPHREY — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Curtis Pashelka

cpashelka@bayareanewsgroup.com

Yaroslav Askarov has been everything the Sharks hoped he would be when they acquired him five months ago from the Nashville Predators, and it’s likely only a matter of time before he becomes the team’s No. 1 goalie.

But he could still be a tremendous asset to the Sharks organization between now and then, particularly during the Calder Cup playoffs.

The Sharks’ front office has talked about how valuable playoff games can be to a prospect’s development and would love to see the San Jose Barracuda go on a long postseason run this year. San Jose (20-13-1-2) entered this week in fifth place in the AHL’s Pacific Division but is still having its best season in years and appears capable of doing damage in the playoffs.

Askarov, 22, figures to help with that endeavor. Before the Sharks recalled him on Dec. 18, Askarov had a 9-4-1 record and a .938 save percentage with three shutouts in 14 games with the Barracuda this season. He was named to the Pacific Division team for the AHL All-Star Classic next month in Palm Desert, but whether he plays in the game will depend on whether he’s with the Sharks or Barracuda.

Askarov backed Alexandar Georgiev on Tuesday as the Sharks blew a 5-1 lead and lost 7-5 to the Predators at Bridgestone Arena to close out a five-game road trip on a very disappointing note. The two teams also play each other in San Jose on Thursday to complete the home-and-home series.

Perhaps the only question is whether the Sharks would assign Askarov back to the AHL if he’s on the NHL roster to end the season and they feel he’s already had plenty of work. But on the surface, at least, such a move would seem beneficial to all parties.

“I think anything’s a possibility,” Barracuda general manager Joe Will said last week when asked about having Askarov for a playoff run. “This is the time of year when we’re having a lot of our meetings about moving forward and what we’re doing for development and everything else.

“So anything’s possible. With any of the young players, they could play some games with the Sharks, they could play some games with the Barracuda, and they could be playoff eligible for the Barracuda.”

Askarov would have to be on the Barracuda’s roster on the day of the NHL trade deadline, March 7, to be eligible for the AHL playoffs.

In the NHL, Askarov also hasn’t looked out of place. Including his 27-save performance against the Boston Bruins on Monday, when he was still feeling ill after coming down with the flu late last week, Askarov has a 3-4-2 record and a team-leading .912 save percentage in nine games with the rebuilding Sharks this season.

According to moneypuck.com, Askarov ranks 11th out of 70 goalies who have played at least nine games in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes.

“He’s a kid that’s battling,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Monday of Askarov, who was making his first start since Jan.11. “He’s still pretty sick right now, so he battled through the game. I’ve got to give him a lot of credit for a young kid to battle through that type of game is impressive.”

The Sharks could return Askarov to the Barracuda of the AHL once veteran goalie Vitek Vanecek is ready to play games again. Vanecek has been recovering from a fractured cheek he sustained on Dec. 17 and has been on the ice in recent days, but would likely need practice time with the Sharks before he’s activated off of injured reserve.

Once that happens -- and assuming Alexandar Georgiev is healthy and still with the Sharks -- Askarov would be a candidate to be loaned to the Barracuda. Both Vanecek and Georgiev are pending unrestricted free agents and could be moved before the trade deadline.

The Barracuda hasn’t made the postseason since 2021, when the team played four games in a truncated playoff format with Pacific Division teams only. With Askarov, they could play a few more games than that, with AHL rookies Filip Bystedt, Ethan Cardwell, Luca Cagnoni, and others benefiting from the experience.

“That’s why we prioritized having a competitive team and making a playoff run … to expose the prospects,” Barracuda coach John McCarthy said. “I think any experience will be good. If the games are playoff games, playoff-stretch games, or we’re coming down to the wire, I think everything’s heightened, and it’s the closest thing you can get to an NHL game.”