Preds Select Iaroslav Askarov with No. 11 Overall Pick in 2020 NHL Draft

Nashville, Tenn. (October 6, 2020) - With the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators selected goaltender Iaroslav Askarov on Tuesday at the team's draft headquarters at Bridgestone Arena.

Askarov, 18 (6/16/02), becomes the third goaltender ever selected by the Predators in the first round. The Omsk, Russia, native was the No. 1-ranked international goaltender by NHL Central Scouting and is the sixth Russian-born goaltender to be selected in the first round in League history.
"Iaroslav is an elite, elite prospect," Predators Assistant GM/Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty said. "The talent level and the athleticism stands out right away. We compare his athleticism to that of Pekka Rinne or (Los Angeles Kings goalie) Jonathan Quick, and he's mature beyond his years in terms of his compete level and mental make-up. Even at such a young age, he's proven himself in a men's league by playing in the KHL over in Russia. We believe he was the best player available, and if you have a franchise goaltender on your hands, which we do believe he will be, you're in a very good situation."

Askarov has appeared in three games for the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg this season, going 2-1-0 with a 0.74 goals-against average, .974 save percentage and one shutout. He's also seen action for Saint Peterburg's team in the Russian second league, appearing in two games this season after spending the entire 2019-20 campaign with the club, where he went 12-3-3 and posted a .920 save percentage in 18 contests. 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.
The 6-foot-4, right-catch goalie also has starred internationally for Russia on several occasions and most recently represented his country in the 2020 World Junior Championship, taking home a silver medal. He featured prominently in two of Russia's international tournaments in 2019, winning gold at the U-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and earning 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 Challenege, where he was named a tournament all-star.
Rounds 2-7 of the 2020 NHL Draft continue Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. CT with the Predators holding six selections: No. 37 (second round), No. 42 (second round), No. 70 (third round), No. 73 (third round), No. 135 (fifth round) and No. 166 (sixth round).