"The Sharks are also optimistic that they've overhauled their goaltending for the better, with Yaroslav Askarov now taking on a full-time NHL role and the more experienced Alex Nedeljkovic providing some competition for the No. 1 job. Of course, stats-wise, there was nowhere to go but up. The five goalies the Sharks used last season combined for both the third-worst team save percentage (.881) in the NHL and the highest-goals against average (3.74). The advanced metrics were not much better, if at all."
"As the No. 1 goalie for the Nashville Predators' AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, Askarov, between the regular season and playoffs, played 60 games in 2022-23 and 51 the following year. Acquired by the Sharks from the Predators in Aug. 2024, Askarov shined in the AHL, but a lower body injury limited him to 41 games total between the Sharks and Barracuda."
San Jose added veteran forwards and defensemen to improve competitiveness while overhauling its goaltending. Yaroslav Askarov, 23, will assume a full-time NHL role after heavy AHL workloads, and Alex Nedeljkovic, 29, was acquired to provide experience and competition for the No. 1 job. Last season the Sharks used five goalies who combined for a .881 team save percentage and a 3.74 goals-against average, ranking among the NHL's worst. Concerns remain about Askarov's availability after a lower-body injury and whether Nedeljkovic can rebound from a career-low .894 save percentage.
Read at The Mercury News
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