Why the Detroit Red Wings Won’t Pursue Askarov (+)

When the Detroit Red Wings were ramping up to pick fourth overall in the 2020 draft, one rumor circulating was that GM Steve Yzerman liked Russian goalie Yaroslav Askarov.

One theory was Yzerman would select Askarov to be Detroit’s goalie of the future, similar to what he did in 2012 when he claimed Andrei Vasilevskiy for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.

Yzerman probably did like Askarov. Most GMs and scouts had Askarov projected to be a first round pick, but no one was saying he should go in the top five. Yzerman obviously didn’t believe he deserved to go there. What we know now is the Red Wings were locked in on Lucas Raymond. They weren’t considering  Askarov. The consensus was that he would land somewhere close to No. 10. He went 11th to the Nashville Predators.