Juuse Saros' days with the Nashville Predators looked like they might have been numbered heading into this offseason, but both sides appear to be committed to each other for the long haul. The veteran goalie is agreeing to an eight-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $7.5 million, per Elliotte Freidman of Sportsnet and The Athletic's Chris Johnston.
Despite trade rumors that had him possibly going to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Martin Necas, Saros is staying in Music City. Obviously, the tide turned dramatically in the last few days. Predators general manager and 2018 Stanley Cup champion Barry Trotz expressed confidence in getting a deal done, but many believed the asking price would be too high.
The presence of 22-year-old Yaroslav Askarov also made a potential split quite plausible to fans. Ostensibly, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft was the long-term option to man the net for Nashville. Now, it could be Askarov who is headed elsewhere. Regardless of the complicating factors that lie ahead, management is clearly motivated to remain competitive in the immediate future.
The Predators have stagnated in recent years, failing to advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in six consecutive seasons. They fell to the Vancouver Canucks in six games in May and are in danger of sliding further down the Western Conference hierarchy. A capable and experienced netminder can make a noticeable difference, and it has for this team.
Juuse Saros tallied a 90.6 save percentage and 2.86 goals against average while earning a 35-24-5 record during the 2023-24 regular season. He surrendered the second-most goals (173) but also led the NHL in saves (1,672) and games played (64). Clearly, his past contributions, coupled with the dollars amount, sealed the deal.
Predators have more work to do this offseason
Trotz should be busy this summer, as he looks to replenish the squad's defense and upgrade its offense. He has already started shuffling the roster and will need to stay aggressive if he hopes to launch Nashville into legitimate title contention. Jake Guentzel, Mitchell Marner and other quality talents can all be acquisition candidates.
Fans are ready for the organization to make a sizable splash in the offseason to elevate the franchise to heights they have not seen since 2017. The path through the West is arduous, to say the least, forcing the Predators to raise their level of play and talent going forward.
While many might be surprised or confused by the Juuse Saros extension, they can at least direct their attention to other matters that need to be addressed. Yaroslav Askarov, on the other hand, could probably use some more time to adjust to the situation.