Sharks‘ โGoalie โProspect Askarov Showing Meaningful Betterment, According to Expert Analysis
SAN JOSE, CA โค- San Jose Sharks goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov is demonstrating โฃmarked improvement in his โgame, prompting optimism from hockey analysts.โฃ A recent episode of the San Jose Hockeyโ Now Podcast โคfeatured goalie guru Kevinโ Woodley, who detailed the โคspecifics behind Askarov’s strong November performance.The discussion alsoโ touched on the underrated play of Sharks netminder Alex nedeljkovic, alongside teamโ forward evaluations and prospect updates.
Askarov’s development โขis crucial for the Sharks’ long-term success, as a reliable starting goaltender remains a key need for the rebuilding franchise. Woodley’s insights โoffer a deeper understanding of the adjustments Askarov has made, potentially accelerating his path to becoming a consistent NHL contributor. The podcast further explored internal team โdecisions, including the call-up of Zack Ostapchuk over other promising โขprospects like Quentin Musty andโ Igor Chernyshov, and debated the sharks’ current forward depth, specifically comparing the progress of William Eklund and Will Smith.
Woodley’s analysis highlighted specific areas of โAskarov’s โขgame that have seen positive โคchange this season. The podcast also included a โprospects focus from Keegan, who discussed Chernyshov’s strengths and weaknesses, and introduced Ethan Belchetz, a projected top pick in the 2026 draft with a โconnection โฃto Michael Misa.
The episode also addressed the Sharks’ defensive struggles, with significant discussion around the play of John Klingberg, โคDmitry Orlov, and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
Listeners can findโข the San Joseโข Hockey Now Podcast โขon Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4l4mpADVRh5IPCdD2uRw1i and Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/san-jose-hockey-now-podcast/id1694200934.