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Barry Trotz Basically Called Yaroslav Askarov A Mental Midget

Yaroslav Askarov
Barry Trotz is obviously still bitter about the Yaroslav Askarov situation. Trotz basically called the new Sharks goalie a mental midget. (David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports)

Barry Trotz Basically Called Yaroslav Askarov A Mental Midget

The Predators traded Yaroslav Askarov to the Sharks and Barry Trotz still sounds bitter about it. The Preds head honcho basically called the Russian goalie a mental midget.

Trotz claims that Askarov will be a great goaltender but doesn’t have the mental makeup for it to happen right now.

“Asky is going to be an excellent goaltender because he’s got unbelievable athletic skills, and he’s got a very confident personality – all that,” Trotz told The Athletic’s Michael Russo. “But if you talk to elite goaltenders, they won’t talk about elite physical attributes. They’ll talk about elite mentalities and elite mindsets and elite preparation and stuff like that. And I’m not quite sure that he’s there yet.

“I know this just from years and years of working with (goaltending coach) Mitch Korn, who I think is the best in the business. The mental part, the physical part, the emotional part all have to get to a very mature state to have a lot of consistency in this game.”

Shots fired!

Clearly he was bitter about the trade request because he sent him to the worst team in the league.

Trotz can say whatever he wants but he overplayed his hand. It’s something we talked about before the trade happened. When Juuse Saros was 22, he was already a backup at the NHL level for two years. To expect Askarov to just rot in the minors for two more years is an insane concept. Trotz should look himself in the mirror for misplaying this.

Side note: Askarov got a neck tattoo this Summer. People that get neck tattoos clearly have some screws loose in the brain.

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