Juuse Saros’ salary demands won’t keep him in Nashville much longer
Juuse Saros was another netminder in the rumor mill who, predictably, in this case, wasn’t traded at the 2024 deadline. However, he also wasn’t a rental, so the Nashville Predators didn’t have to trade a player who is still young enough to be a franchise goaltender in this league.
They also don’t need to trade Saros in the offseason, but they will likely trade him elsewhere if they can’t make a deal to keep the 28-year-old around long-term. However, there are plenty of suitors out there who wouldn’t think twice about overpaying for someone with franchise goaltender potential, with the New Jersey Devils looking like potential front-runners.
Everyone knows New Jersey’s story this season, as they looked like a good team on paper. They would have even been a complete team had Vitek Vanecek enjoyed a repeat performance this year. But he was so ineffective, the Devils traded him elsewhere while they acquired a patchwork unit of Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen.
The upcoming free agent class of goaltenders also isn’t promising, and it will put a goaltender like Saros in even higher demand. Whether he goes to the Devils or somewhere else, Nashville will get an outstanding return for one of the league’s better netminders.