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Nashville Predators sign goalie Iaroslav Askarov to a three-year, entry-level contract

Russia's goaltender Iaroslav Askarov looks through his mask during the U20 Ice Hockey Worlds semifinal match between Sweden and Russia in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020.
Russia's goaltender Iaroslav Askarov looks through his mask during the U20 Ice Hockey Worlds semifinal match between Sweden and Russia in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020.

The Nashville Predators got a 19-year-old's autograph Monday.

The team signed goalie Iaroslav Askarov, whom they chose 11th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract that begins next season.

The 6-foot-3, 176-pounder played most of last season with Neva Saint Petersburg in the VHL, the second-highest professional league in Russia. He was 5-2-2 with a 2.57 goals-against average. He also played six games in the KHL.

"Be the greatest Russian goalie," Askarov said through a translator after he was picked. "No. 1 in the NHL."

"He's a high-end talent," Predators assistant general manager Jeff Kealty said of Askarov last week. "... There's no question he's a top-end goaltending prospect."

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Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators sign goalie Iaroslav Askarov to entry-level deal