A pair of big moves on June 19 saw Jacob Markstrom traded to the New Jersey Devils and Darcy Kuemper dealt to the Los Angeles Kings. In other words, two of the NHL teams with the biggest goaltending needs just filled them. So, what does this mean for the Nashville Predators? In short, it means Juuse Saros [https://www.nhl.com/predators/player/juuse-saros-8477424] likely isn't going anywhere. Although Predators general manager Barry Trotz said at his end-of-season media availability that signing the 29-year-old netminder to a contract extension remains a priority for the team, he has not taken the possibility of a trade off the table. Until he does, Saros' name is going to continue to swirl around the rumor mill. A former Vezina Trophy finalist and two-time NHL All-Star entering the 2024-25 season on an expiring contract, Saros is easily Nashville's most valuable trade chip. He has been the subject of trade rumors for months – years, even – that only intensified leading up to the NHL trade deadline on March 8. Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz and head coach Andrew Brunette speak to the media following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. When asked why he ultimately decided not to move his starting goalie at the trade deadline, Trotz said that he "wasn't going to accept inadequate stuff" from other teams in exchange for an elite goaltender of Saros' caliber. Several reports indicated that the Devils made the strongest push to acquire Saros from the Predators leading up to the trade deadline. Even though New Jersey general manager Tom Fitzgerald wasn't successful before March 8, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun wrote [https://theathletic.com/5335891/2024/03/12/lebrun-landeskog-devils-trade-deadline/] after the deadline that there was a strong possibility that he would try again during the offseason. Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros speaks to the media following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. Instead, Fitzgerald revisited conversations with the Calgary Flames and acquired Markstrom for much more reasonable price than what Trotz was asking for Saros. The Devils parted with defenseman Kevin Bahl [https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4378686/kevin-bahl] and a top-10-protected first-round draft pick in 2025 to get Markstrom from the Flames, who retained 31.25% of the 34-year-old goaltender's salary. Meanwhile, a trade package for Saros that didn't include multiple high-end players and/or prospects was likely going to be a non-starter for Trotz and the Predators. As for Saros, the likelihood that he re-signs with the Predators is even higher now that both New Jersey and Los Angeles have traded for goaltenders. There are other teams – the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, among others – that are also in need of bonafide starting goaltenders, but the Predators' asking price for Saros is likely higher than they would be willing to pay. A reasonable expectation for a Saros extension in Nashville would be in the neighborhood of six to eight years at an AAV of $8-8.5 million. The Predators are eligible to sign him to a new contract as early as July 1, but don't expect it to happen that quickly. There is mutual interest between Saros and the team in getting a deal done, and the Predators have the time – and the financial flexibility – to make it happen.
