Sheng Peng
Thomas Speer thinks Yaroslav Askarov has all the tools, physical and mental, to be an elite goaltender.
“He’s got those million-dollar legs and hips,” the San Jose Sharks goaltending coach told San Jose Hockey Now in an exclusive interview. “The confidence that he has, the high compete, his raw ability to read the play and stop pucks. He’s a very gifted kid.”
Speer spoke on what Askarov has to improve, his thoughts on the new Sharks’ acquisition’s maturity, how he’ll help the top goaltending prospect channel his emotions positively at all times, why Speer thinks Askarov could be good for the game, and how Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek took the Askarov trade.
Thomas Speer, on why the San Jose Sharks are so high on Askarov:
He’s got those million-dollar legs and hips, he’s quick, he can fly around the net. Just his ability just to be athletic around the net.
He’s the type of goalie that can make any type of save necessary to make the save. And you don’t see a lot of goalies [who] are that powerful and that athletic, especially at a young age. That’s a big reason why he’s been the prospect he is.
Speer, on how rare Askarov’s combination of athleticism and power is:
It’s rare. It’s rare for a goalie to get drafted in the first round and there’s a reason why he was.
You don’t see it a lot, you sometimes see quick, but they don’t have the athletic ability. They just kind of go a million miles an hour to nowhere.
But he has that natural puck stopping instinct, and you add that with his athleticism and power, it’s a pretty deadly combination.
He reads the game so well, he’s always getting to the right spots.
One thing too, he’s super-competitive.
When I was coaching with Team USA at the National Team Development Program, I had Spencer Knight. We played against Askarov, and that was my first time seeing him. And I remember thinking back then, man, this kid’s gonna be special at some point.
Speer, on Askarov’s potential to be an elite goaltender:
It’s all up to him at the end of the day when he gets here. But he has the tools to do it.
He’s got a swagger about him that I like. He’s confident, he’s competitive, and he has every tool.
Speer, on what Askarov has to improve:
I think just the timing at the NHL level. I think you can dominate the American League. You get to the NHL, you give an edge, and they take five.
He’s going to have his ups and downs when he does come up, every goalie does, but I think his ability to adapt is going to be quicker than most. Just timing at the NHL level is going to be a big one, getting used to that pace.
Speer, on he, director of goaltending Evgeni Nabokov, and goalie development coach Ryan Miller scouting Askarov well before the trade:
A while ago, we were going through the list of young [goaltending] prospects and Askarov was one of the guys. There was nothing really too detailed. It wasn’t like, hey, this is what we’re gonna do and we’re gonna go get him. It was very much watch Askarov, watch this guy, watch that guy, and just let me know your thoughts.
Mike did his due diligence. We did ours, we gave him the information, and he went from there.
Nabby, Millsy, and myself, we all did our own reports. I don’t even know what the other guys said, to be honest, but we were probably all on the same page.
Speer, on if he ever discussed Askarov with Nabokov and Miller:
We did separate reports, and we gave our own thoughts on them. We did meet up and talk about it later on, we all talked about how good he was. We were all of the same opinion of his potential.
Speer, on Askarov’s highs and lows as an AHL goalie, from being an AHL All-Star to getting replaced in the playoffs:
It’s impressive. Anybody at that age, to be an AHL All-Star?
When it comes to the playoffs and all that stuff, it’s just more experience for him, right? It’s something for him to learn from, to move on from and get better at. So that stuff doesn’t worry me. It just part of his path, he’ll grow from it.
Speer, on Askarov’s maturity and on-the-ice antics, if he still needs to work on channeling his emotions positively at all times:
Yeah, but I think that’s every player.
I’m okay with guys having a little swagger. Bench pressing the net is a little bit aggressive. But at the end of the day, if you can back it up, I’m okay with it, as long as it’s respectful, and you’re not chasing down other players and throwing your stick [at them]…
I’m okay with it, as long as he’s keeping it checked. I think that’s a good sign of confidence, right?
I guarantee somebody that’s not confident would never do some of the stuff that he does. So it shows a ton of confidence.
Now, can he manage it better? Sure. Can he portray himself differently? Maybe, I don’t know, I don’t know him well enough to know that.
But I can tell you my experience in talking with him. And the experience I’ve talked [to others], just heard rumors around the league. I think he’s a good guy. So I’m not worried about locker room stuff at all.
Speer, on his introductory conversation with Askarov:
Yeah, I talked to him after the trade one time. Talked to him for about 20 minutes. He’s very genuine in wanting to get here and get to work, and very excited about the opportunity.
English was good. There a little bit of a delay and thinking. But there was no having to interpret each other.
Speer, on how he helps young goalies manage their emotions:
You just talk about it.
I’ve had younger guys in the past, the American League, that were very good and high-end prospects.
It’s just, hey, I get what you’re doing here. Just you got to remember how it’s perceived by others and your teammates, right?
I personally could care less how fans or other people perceive it one way, but it’s about your team, and as long as it’s a positive momentum for your team, I’m okay with it.
Also, not disrespecting other players, like I said, you don’t want to be spewing venom at the other team, that’s not good for anybody.
But I think it’s good. I think the game could use a guy like that. It’s good for entertainment and all that good stuff, as long as he’s backing up and working hard, that’s all I care about.
Speer, on what makes the San Jose Sharks organization so confident that Askarov will succeed:
The confidence that he has, the high compete, his raw ability to read the play and stop pucks. He’s a very gifted kid. I’m excited.
In every sport, there’s players that just have that, I don’t know if it’s a genetic thing or whatever it is, but they’re just built for that sport. And he’s one of those guys that’s just built to be a goalie, and he has that confidence and swagger to him. It’s a great combination.
Speer, on if he’s spoken with Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek about the Askarov trade:
They were great about it. They were excited for Askarov, they were excited for the organization.
I think once you’re at the NHL level, there’s always somebody up-and-coming for your job.
Blacky was great, was like doesn’t really affect anything I’m doing. I’m going to be me, and I’m going to be the best goalie that [I] can be and go from there and let the results speak for themselves.
They’re all very confident in their ability. I’m impressed with how well that everybody supports each other here. It’s a great time to be a Shark goalie.
Speer, on what looks to be an open competition between the three goalies to be opening night starter:
The best goalies will play. It’s that simple, right? I think it’s wide-open.