NEW JERSEY – Yaroslav Askarov will start his fourth game of the season on Friday as the San Jose Sharks visit the New Jersey Devils.

The 23-year-old has stumbled out of the gate, much like the rest of the Sharks team, but there isn’t any reason to worry. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky put any concerns about Askarov’s future success to rest.

“That’s a young kid that’s going through this. If you really think about it, he’s played what, 15, 18 games in the National Hockey League. I don’t even know if it’s that high, but he’s right up there with [Macklin Celebrini] and Will [Smith] as a young player in this league that’s learning,” Warsofsky said. “I think maybe it’s the outside perspective of he needs to carry the world on his shoulders. He’s probably feeling that pressure a little bit.”

It is hard to forget that the San Jose Sharks’ star players are still so young. With his second career hat trick against the New York Rangers, Celebrini made headlines as one of the NHL’s youngest players ever to achieve two hat tricks in a career.

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Celebrini is also just the fourth teenager in NHL history to have multiple five-point games in a career.

Every teenager in NHL history to record multiple five-point games:

Wayne Gretzky (5)
Dale Hawerchuk (2)
Bryan Trottier (2)
Macklin Celebrini (2) https://t.co/oYBVYCHVmc— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) October 24, 2025

While the San Jose Sharks would certainly like better numbers than Askarov’s current ones (.838 save %, 5.72 GAA), there is absolutely no reason to panic. Panicking would only add more pressure on the 23-year-old. After all, this is the first time in his professional career he’s started a season in the NHL.

“Thomas [Speer] is doing a really good job of working with him,” Warsofsky said. “We’ve talked to him. He’s hitting a little speed bump early in his NHL career. The world’s not coming to an end. He’s going to be just fine. He’s an extremely talented goaltender. We got to work on some technical things, but we still have very good confidence in this young man.”

So, how do the Sharks help Askarov navigate through a tough stretch?

Warsofsky connects well with his players. His message has clearly resonated with the Sharks team and, on an individual level, as well.

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“He’s got to play. We got to put our arms around him and guide him,” Warsofsky explained. “He’s a young kid. He’s not 30 years old and a mature human being. This is new to him. This is a challenge for him. I mean, this is part of life.

“As coaches, we’ve got to be there for him. There are times where, like I said, you have to put your arms around him and give him a big hug. There are times where you have to push him and challenge him to get out of his comfort zone, and he’s reacted really well to that.”

NHL teams need to take their time as they develop young goalies. Regarding Askarov, his situation shouldn’t be any different. Expecting him to carry the San Jose Sharks this season is a tall order.

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