When the San Jose Sharks acquired Yaroslav Askarov in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Aug. 23, 2024, general manager Mike Grier called it "a really big day for our franchise."

Askarov then signed a two-year, $4 million contract ($2 million average annual value). There was little doubt why the Sharks were excited, like there was little doubt Askarov would be the first goalie off the board at the 2020 NHL Draft and the Predators wasted no time selecting him at No. 11. He was the top-rated European goalie in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings and became the third Russia-born goalie in NHL history to be chosen first at the position, joining Ilya Samsonov (Washington Capitals, No. 22, 2015 NHL Draft) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning, No. 19, 2012 NHL Draft.)

Askarov made history when he made his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League with SKA St. Petersburg on Nov. 27, 2019, at the age of 17, becoming the second-youngest goalie to start a game in KHL history (Ilya Sorokin, 2013). He also excelled internationally, helping Russia finish second at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and first at the 2019 Hlinka-Gretzky Under-18 Tournament, when he finished with a 1.25 goals-against average and .960 save percentage.