Nashville Predators News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Image credit: ClutchPoints

Predators will take calls on Juuse Saros this summer

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Colin Gallant | Last updated 5/7/24

The Nashville Predators are at the beginning of another long offseason after bowing out in the first-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs yet again — this time to the Vancouver Canucks in six games.

The Nucks beat the Preds 1-0 in Game 6 last week to book their ticket to a Western Conference second-round date with the Edmonton Oilers, robbing Nashville of a trip to the second-round for the sixth straight season. For the Predators, there are some key decisions to make this summer, and none bigger than the future of franchise goaltender Juuse Saros.

The 29-year-old has been the backbone of this team since Pekka Rinne retired, but as he’s entering the final season of his contract — and Nashville is at a bit of a crossroads between wanting to be a playoff contender and needing to retool — the future of the Finn is up in the air.

And the front office, led by general manager Barry Trotz, will at least listen to potential trade offers for the star netminder.

“According to two separate sources from two separate NHL clubs, Trotz is expected to, at the very least, take calls on Saros this summer,” wrote The Fourth Period over the weekend.

“If the Predators decide to move Saros, he will surely command a high return, even entering an expiring contract. With just over $18.5 million in salary cap space next season, the Predators would have the ability to add a big contract via trade if Saros and his $5 million cap hit are moved out.”

Saros will play out the final year of a four-year, $20 million contract in 2024-25 before becoming an unrestricted free agent next offseason. And he’s still a fantastic goaltender, there’s no doubt about that. He posted a 35-24-5 record with a 2.86 goals-against-average, .906 save percentage and three shutouts in 64 games for the Preds this season.

But a potential rebuild is on the horizon — and Yaroslav Askarov is ready for his NHL shot.

Yaroslav Askarov is waiting in the wings

Nashville Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) on the ice against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Capital One Arena. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Predators did something that you rarely see in the first-round of NHL drafts: selected a goaltender. Nashville picked the Russian at No. 11 overall in 2020, and the 21-year-old has already gotten into three games with the big-league club.

That includes two contests in 2023-24, in which Askarov posted a sparkling 1.47 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. It’s a small sample size, but he was excellent with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season as well.

Askarov went 30-13-1 in the minors, posting a solid 2.39 GAA and .911 SV% in that span. He will almost certainly be making the jump to the NHL full-time next year, most likely as the backup.

But if Saros does end up getting moved, Askarov will certainly have an opportunity to step into the starting role. That’s especially true with current backup goalie Kevin Lankinen set to be a UFA this summer.

TFP’s David Pagnotta reported earlier this year that Saros will be looking for a similar contract to New York Islanders tendie Ilya Sorokin, who broke the bank to the tune of an eight-year, $66 million extension last July.

That’s a hefty price for the Predators to pay, especially if Trotz does commit to a re-tool next season and beyond.

“With the emergence of young netminder Yaroslav Askarov in the AHL, the Predators fielded trade inquiries earlier in the season before the team went on a rush for the playoffs and teams are expected to call about Saros’ services this summer,” wrote TFP.

It’ll be interesting to see which direction Barry Trotz and the front office goes this summer.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: