Report: Predators won't trade Saros while in playoff spot

The Nashville Predators won't look to deal Juuse Saros as long as they're in a postseason position, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

The Predators sat outside the playoff picture for much of this season, but they're now riding a five-game win streak that's vaulted them into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They're four points ahead of the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, with one more game played than the former and two more than the latter.

Nashville's early mediocrity led to speculation that they might trade Saros. In January, it was reported that the Predators' preference was to sign the netminder to a contract extension, but they would listen to serious offers.

Saros has struggled this season compared to the standard he set in previous campaigns. The Finnish puck-stopper, who'll turn 29 in April, entered Tuesday with a .904 save percentage and a 23-21-2 record. He finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting last season, third in 2021-22, and sixth in the abbreviated 2021 campaign.

The goalie is signed through 2024-25 with a $5-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. Nashville came into Tuesday's action with a 58.4% chance of making the playoffs, per MoneyPuck.

The Predators' goaltender of the future, Yaroslav Askarov, is thriving in the AHL this season with a .920 save percentage over 29 games. Nashville selected him 11th overall in 2020.

Saros has spent his entire nine-year career with the Predators, who drafted him 99th overall in 2013.

Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.