October 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThomas is doing a really good job of working with him,\u201d said Warsofsky. \u201cWe\u2019ve talked to him, he knows and he\u2019s hitting a little speed bump early in his NHL career. The world\u2019s not coming to an end. He\u2019s going to be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to note that other highly-touted goaltender prospects around the league who were drafted around the same time as Askarov are facing similar struggles. Despite a solid start to the current season, Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild, who was drafted 20th overall in 2021, has been up-and-down in both the NHL and AHL over the past few seasons. Sebastian Cossa has only played a single NHL game for the Detroit Red Wings, four years after being selected No. 15. Askarov, like the others, is still a young goaltender trying to adapt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a young kid. He\u2019s not 30 years old and a mature human being,\u201d said Warsofsky. \u201cThis is new to him. This is a challenge for him. There are times where you\u2019ve got to put your arms around him and give him a big hug. There are times where you\u2019ve got to push him and challenge him to get out of his comfort zone. He\u2019s reacted really well to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
It has only been 14 months since the San Jose Sharks traded an abundance of assets to acquire Askarov from the Nashville Predators and, importantly, the team\u2019s belief in him hasn\u2019t wavered. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a talented goalie, and we obviously have high hopes for him. He has a bright future,\u201d Warsofsky added. \u201cThere are going to be speed bumps. This won\u2019t be the only speed bump he hits along the way. You could see the best goaltenders of all time go through some stretches where they don\u2019t play great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Warsofsky did also acknowledge there are a few areas that the coaching staff need to work on with Askarov. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to work with him and keep getting him more comfortable with the pace, the schedule and everything that goes in between that,\u201d the San Jose Sharks\u2019 coach stated. \u201cWe\u2019re excited about his future, and we\u2019re excited he\u2019s playing tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an extremely talented goaltender,\u201d Warsofsky added. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to work on some things technically, but we still have very good confidence in this young man.\u201d<\/p>\n
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