Predators' GM Comments on Juuse Saros' Future in Nashville

After openly discussing goaltender Juuse Saros in trade rumors this season, Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz has done a 180. Trotz loved what he saw down the stretch from his Finnish netminder and into the playoffs and it sounds like the trade rumors are going to quiet down tremendously.

Trotz recently spoke to Robby Stanley of NHL.com and touched on Saros' future with the franchise:

We'll be in talks. I'm sure it's not going to be definitely a July 1 announcement, probably. I think it's going to be a process with his people, his representatives. But I do know this: (Saros) wants to be here, and he's been a big part of it. I'd like him to be here, so we're going to work hard at getting something done with him.

Saros has one season left on his deal at $5 million AAV and doesn't hold any trade protection. If contract talks go south with Trotz, look for trade interest to be aplenty across the league including from the LA Kings and New Jersey Devils who kicked tires with Trotz throughout the course of last season.

Saros has a career .915 Sv.% and while he hasn't necessarily been his Vezina-finalist type self the past season and a half or so, he's shown he's more than capable of getting the job done and battles hard for what some would call an undersized goaltender.

The Preds have Yaroslav Askarov who is known as one of the best goalies outside of the NHL. He was the 11th overall pick in 2020 and was lights on in the AHL last season. The Russian netminder made three appearances this season and could earn the backup role to Saros next year and push him for starter's minutes. Askarov was 30-13-1 in the minors, posting a .911Sv.% in the process.

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