According to a report from Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the Nashville Predators have signed veteran goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.5 million. Wedgewood, 31, spent the last three seasons with the Dallas Stars and posted a 16-7-5 record with a .899 save percentage and 2.85 goals-against average. He played a career-high 32 games in the 2023-24 season while starter Jake Oettinger missed nearly a month due to injury; Wedgewood posted a 6-3-2 record in 11 straight starts during that stretch. Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz speaks to the media following the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Wedgewood was also a locker room favorite in Dallas who should fit in well with Nashville. With ace goaltender Juuse Saros reportedly on the verge of signing an eight-year contract extension, Wedgewood will be his backup entering the 2024-25 season. This, of course, means that former Predators backup Kevin Lankinen is headed out the door in free agency. He was highly effective during his two seasons backing up Saros in Nashville, but given Lankinen's $2 million salary last season, Wedgewood carries a more affordable price tag. Following the reports of Saros' contract extension, the Wedgewood signing has raised several questions about the future of highly-touted goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov in Nashville. The Predators were reportedly shopping Askarov during the 2024 NHL Draft, but several potential trade suitors felt that the asking price was too steep. Nashville may continue to shop their 2020 first-round pick this offseason, but for the time being, it looks like Askarov will start his third straight season with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals in 2024-25.
