2020 Draft: Askarov could become highest-selected Russia-born goalie

The 2020 NHL Draft will be held virtually on Oct. 6-7. The first round will be Oct. 6 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 are Oct. 7 (11:30 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN1). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects and other features. Today, a look at Iaroslav Askarov, who is No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final list of international goalies. NHL.com'sfull draft coverage can be found here.

Iaroslav Askarov is poised to move ahead of Andrei Vasilevskiy as the highest-drafted Russia-born goalie.
If it comes to pass at the 2020 NHL Draft, it would be fitting since Vasilevskiy might be the closest comparable to Askarov, ranked No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final list of international goalies.
The 2020 NHL Draft will be held virtually on Oct. 6-7.
RELATED: [Full 2020 NHL Draft coverage]
Vasilevskiy, selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the No. 19 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, won the 2019 Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie and has the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final at the age of 26.
That's high praise for Askarov, who last season became the second youngest goalie and fourth 17-year-old to play in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League when he made 23 saves in a 4-2 victory for SKA Saint Petersburg against HC Sochi in his debut.
Last week, the 18-year-old went 2-1-0 with an 0.75 goals-against average, .974 save percentage and his first shutout, and was named the KHL's Goalie of the Week and Rookie of the Week.
Add in top-three finishes in all six international events representing Russia, and Askarov is expected to surpass Vasilevskiy and Ilya Samsonov (No. 22, Washington Capitals, 2015) as the only other Russia-born goalies to be chosen first at their position.

Askarov (6-foot-3, 176 pounds) has a chance to better Spencer Knight (No. 13, Florida Panthers, 2019) as the highest drafted goalie since the Dallas Stars selected Jack Campbell No. 11 in the 2010 NHL Draft.
"He's got great size, he's so explosive at this age already and he's got great flexibility, and I would probably even say that he handles the puck better than anybody in the KHL right now and he's not afraid to do it, which is great," said Nikolai Khabibulin, who played 799 games during 18 NHL seasons. "Also, when you talk to him and show him something, he's very open to trying new things, and I could try something new and he gets it pretty quick, he's so coachable. His head is pretty strong, so all these things, to me that makes a complete package for a goalie to be an NHL star."
Khabibulin is the only Russia-born starting goalie to win the Stanley Cup, in 2004 with the Lightning. He has worked with Askarov as both the goaltending coach for Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and at SKA development camps.
"I never really try to compare but he's got legs like Vasilevskiy," Khabibulin said, further suggesting Askarov's movements, especially from his knees in the butterfly, are as good as any goalie in either the NHL or KHL.
Askarov earned top goalie and tournament all-star honors while helping Russia finish second at the 2019 IIHF under-18 World Championship. He also was the goalie, and tournament all-star, for Russia when it won the 2018 under-17 Hockey Challenge and again at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, when he made 35 saves in a 3-2 win against Canada in the final.
"Cool, calm and collected," said Artem Yanchenkov, who scouts in Russia for European Central Scouting. "Quick reactions, good mental focus, good right] catching glove and movement in the crease. He reads the play and communicates with his defensemen pretty well, shows technically good play and doesn't allow rebounds. Quick recovery."
Askarov's only hiccup on the international stage was at the 2020 World Juniors when he was the youngest goalie in a tournament primarily featuring 19-year-olds, many already highly drafted by NHL teams. He played in five of 10 games and finished with an .877 save percentage, but Russia finished second.
He finished the season with Neva St. Petersburg in the VHL, Russia's second-tier professional league. He was 12-3-3 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 18 games, the most in league history for a 17-year-old.
This season, he has been called up to the KHL, further burnishing his resume.
"He is playing in a big city, hockey is popular and it's one of the top teams in the KHL, so he is under a lot of pressure, but he hasn't had a problem because he is mentally strong," said Oleg Romashko, goalie coach for HC Sochi. "He's a very talented goalie with good size, he's competitive, reads the game well and relies on instincts. He has all the tools and a good chance to be a No. 1 goalie on any NHL team."
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