The Philadelphia Flyers were one of the clubs linked to this former top trade candidate.
For much of this offseason, top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov was one of the biggest names in the rumor mill. It is understandable, as the Nashville Predators signed Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension. However, things truly escalated when Askarov officially requested a trade from the Predators earlier this month.
Last week, the Askarov sweepstakes came to end, as the 22-year-old was dealt to the San Jose Sharks. With this, the Sharks now have their goalie of the future as they continue their rebuild.
When looking at the Flyers' current goaltending situation, many speculated that they could have made sense as a landing spot for Askarov. It appears that the Flyers were, in fact, open to bringing him in.
Yaroslav Askarov
© Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
According to Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco, the Flyers were interested in acquiring Askarov and "were willing to be competitive in the market for him." However, Di Marco also added that the Predators' asking price for Askarov was simply too much for the Flyers to go through with.
Askarov certainly would have been a big-time addition to the Flyers' roster, as the 2020 first-round pick has the tools to blossom into an impactful starting goaltender. In addition, at just 22 years old, he would have had the potential to be their long-term answer between the pipes.
However, barring any sudden changes, the Flyers will have rising goaltenders Ivan Fedotov and Samuel Ersson as their goalies in 2024-25. They each have the potential to take that next step and be positive elements of the Flyers' roster. Yet, adding Askarov would have undoubtedly been big for Philly.
