Maple Leafs have a golden opportunity to secure their future in net as elite goalie prospect requests a trade

The Maple Leafs reportedly swung and missed on acquiring Jacob Markstrom this summer, which was a pretty good indicator that GM Brad Treliving was heavily focused on improving his goaltending situation ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Treliving was able to secure a deal with Stanley Cup winner Anthony Stolarz, which certainly seems like an upgrade over the inconsistent Ilya Samsonov, but according to NHL Insider Kevin Weekes, an elite goaltending prospect has just become available and the Maple Leafs would be wise to check in with Nashville regarding Yaroslav Askarov, who has officially requested a trade.

Weekes has reported that Askarov has no intention of reporting to the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, this season, which is likely where he would have ended up after the Preds extended starter Juuse Saros and signed veteran netminder Scott Wedgewood to play behind him. Call me crazy, but a tandem consisting of Joseph Woll and Yaroslav Askarov certainly seems like it could yield tremendous results.

A deal for a prospect like Askarov is certainly a complicated one. Widely considered one of the top goaltending prospects in the world, trading Askarov has the potential to blow up in Nashville's faces, similarly to what happened to the Maple Leafs when they traded Tuukka Rask to Boston.

Askarov suited up in just two NHL games last season for the Predators, winning his only start, and posting a 1.47 GAA and a .943 SV%. He also posted a 30-13-1 record in 44 games in the AHL last season, carrying a 2.39 GAA and a .911 SV% over that span.

Source for stats: HockeyDB
Yaroslav Askarov player profile