Yaroslav Askarov is in the middle of becoming a star goalie in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks.

The 23-year-old has fully taken over the No. 1 goalie position for the Sharks and isn’t showing signs of losing it anytime soon. Askarov has started 21 games for the Sharks this season and has a record of 12-8-1. While the goals against average is a bit inflated at 3.23, he’s routinely given the Sharks a chance to win. His .902 save % is proof of that.

SHD spoke exclusively to Askarov on Wednesday following another terrific performance by the San Jose Sharks. Askarov stopped 27 of 30 shots against the Calgary Flames, many of them showcasing his elite mobility skills.

So how did Askarov get so flexible and mobile? Well, the Sharks’ goalie told SHD that his father always made him stretch, despite his best efforts as a child to defy his dad.

“I stretched a lot when I was like six to 15 years old. My dad was [always] on me. He’s like, you have to stretch, you have to do all the weights and stuff. I was just like, for what? No, I don’t want to. He’s like, You need it. You’re going tell me, thank you in the future. And I was like, No, it can’t be true,” Askarov laughed.

“But after I got a little bit older, I’m just absolutely appreciative because now I can, like, have a little bit of flexibility. Not just stretching, it’s more like mobility. It’s just natural, right?”

Askarov has made some spectacular saves this season, and the flexibility he’s got has to be among the best in the NHL.

The San Jose Sharks have relied heavily on their goaltenders. During the team’s three-game win streak, Askarov has felt the defense in front of him is making his life easy, especially in the third period. He’s adjusted how much he plays the puck because he feels the defensemen have been breaking the puck out well. Askarov says he doesn’t want to disrupt any rhythm they’ve started.

“I’m trying to play simple. Our D is doing a great job, that’s why I’m just trying to keep it simple. I don’t want to bug them,” Askarov explained. “If it usually goes well, you don’t want to change anything. I’m not trying to change anything, because we’re doing okay now.”

There have been moments when the San Jose Sharks are on a power play, and the opponent is changing their PK, and Askarov has tried to hit a teammate with a stretch pass. Askarov told SHD that the stretch pass play isn’t a set play, but that the forwards know he’s capable and have already prepared for the pass without thinking.

“I’ve been trying it since I was like, 12 years old, when I started to play with the buck a lot,” Askarov said. “I just love that long pass. I’m just enjoying it after that. Whenever the boys create something, like Grade A or a goal. [That’s an] absolutely f****ng great feeling.”

Now what about scoring a goal?

“I never dreamed about scoring goals. I’ve found I like making a good pass more, especially since I can’t shoot high,” Askarov said.

His partner with the Sharks is Alex Nedeljkovic, who scored a goal at multiple levels of hockey, including in the NHL last season.

“Ned is f****ng unreal. He’s better than our D, probably. I can’t do that,” Askarov said.

Askarov has developed a strong style of play with the Sharks, but it all comes from what his dad made him do as a child to earn more flexibility, even if he didn’t understand it at the time.

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