The Sharks also acquired a 2025 third-round pick and forward Nolan Burke. In return, the Predators received David Edstrom, a 2025 first-round pick belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights, and goaltender Magnus Chrona.

Starting with Askarov, the 22-year-old netminder was selected 11th overall in the 2020 draft. Last season with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, the 22-year-old right-handed catching netminder had a .911 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average in 44 games. In two National Hockey League games, he had a .943 save percentage and a 1.47 goals-against average.

Burke is a 21-year-old left-shot centre who spent his junior days with the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League. He agreed to terms with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL, scoring five goals and 15 points in 47 games.

Edstrom was selected 32nd overall in the 2023 draft by the Vegas Golden Knights and became a regular for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring seven goals and 19 points in 44 games. The centre was traded to the Sharks before the 2024 trade deadline, along with Vegas’ 2025 first-round pick for Tomáš Hertl.

As for Chrona, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning and turned pro in 2023-24. In the American Hockey League, he had an .894 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average and played nine games for the Sharks.

Thatcher Demko won’t be ready for preseason

Sticking with goaltender news, according to Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali, Vancouver Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko won’t be ready for training camp and preseason games. The team is hopeful he’ll be ready for the Canucks regular season opener, but that is also unlikely.

Last season, Demko had a .918 save percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average in 51 games, and a 35-14-2 record. However, he missed time in the regular season due to injury before missing all but one game in the Canucks’ postseason run. Still, he finished second in Vezina Trophy voting and was on the NHL’s second All-Star team.

Without question, it’s a big loss for the Canucks, who finished first in the Pacific Division in 2023-24 with 109 points before a Game 7 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. However, youngster Artūrs Šilovs proved more than capable after Demko’s injury in the postseason, posting a .898 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average in 10 games.

Keanu Reeves signs one-day contract with the Windsor Spitfire

Some fun news came on Thursday evening, as Canadian movie star Keanu Reeves signed a one-day deal with the Windsor Spitfire of the Ontario Hockey League.

Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, but grew up in Toronto. Before acting in movies such as The Matrix and John Wick and many other notable films, Reeves played hockey at a high level, getting some OHL consideration and playing a season at De La Salle College before injuries ended his hockey career.

He’s doing pretty well for himself as he’s a phenomenal actor and a person, but it’s a nice PR move for the Spitfire, even if the 59-year-old is well past the age limit to play in the OHL.

The Hughes brothers will feature on NHL 25’s cover

On Thursday, Electronic Arts released the trailer for NHL 25, the most notable hockey video game on the market. On the cover, it’ll feature the three Hughes brothers, Quinn (Vancouver), Luke (New Jersey), and Jack (New Jersey.

Quinn, 24, is the reigning Norris Memorial Trophy winner, scoring 17 goals and 92 points in 82 games, but only picking up 10 assists in 13 postseason games while being outplayed by Evan Bouchard. Luke is also a defenceman, scoring nine goals and 47 points in his first full season in 2023-24.

Jack was the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, and he had a breakout in 2022-23, scoring 43 goals and 99 points in 78 games. However, his production dropped in 2023-24, scoring just 27 goals and 74 points in 62 games as the Devils missed out on the postseason.