The Nashville Predators signed Russian goaltender Iaroslav Askarov to a three-year entry-level contract on Monday, whom they drafted 11th overall in the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) draft.

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The catching keeper from the right has played 16 games for SKA St. Petersburg over the past three years, posting an 8-5-2 record, 1.48 goals-against average and save percentage .937 in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He notably became the second youngest goalkeeper to start a game in the KHL, on November 27, 2019 at 17 years old.

Askarov has also shone on the international scene, notably winning the silver medal at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 2020.

In 2021-2022, however, he mainly worked in the Major Hockey League (VHL), the second division in Russia.