Predators prospect Yaroslav Askarov bench-presses goal after AHL shootout win

Nashville Predators goaltender prospect Yaroslav Askarov looks very comfortable playing in North America.

Askarov bench-pressed the goal he successfully defended in the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals shootout win against Rockford on Friday.

The No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft has impressed in the AHL, averaging 2.60 goals against and a .909 save % in 29 games in his first season in North America. That includes the 45-save performance in Friday's win.

Askarov also made his NHL debut on Jan. 12, playing every minute in net in a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. At the moment, the Russian-born goaltender is behind NHLers Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen in the current franchise depth chart. That is likely to change, sooner rather than later.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler ranked Askarov, 20, as the franchise's top overall prospect in rankings last month. That gives Askarov a solid chance at continuing a lineage of quality goaltenders drafted and developed in-house.

His bench press technique could use a little work.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators prospect Yaroslav Askarov bench-presses goal after AHL win