The Nashville Predators, defeated 9-2 by the Dallas Stars on Thursday, are outside the playoffs. One of the reasons for their problems is the poor performance of goalkeeper Juuse Saros, who could move elsewhere.
His side's humiliating setback at Bridgestone Arena was a horrific evening that highlighted the struggles of head coach Andrew Brunette's men. He gave up four times on 14 shots before going to the bench. These are not numbers that will help the Preds get back on their feet, sitting in ninth place in the National Hockey League's Western Conference, four points behind a playoff spot.
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The Tennessee organization also placed Saros on the trade market, according to TSN hockey expert Pierre LeBrun. As a result, the goalkeeper is likely to pack his bags before March 8, but several factors threaten to dampen the enthusiasm of clubs interested in his services. First, there are his rather modest stats this season: a 20-21-2 record, a 3.05 goals-against average and a .901 efficiency percentage.
Then the Predators' potential demands on customers seem to pose a problem.
“In my opinion, Saros is the main player in the market. […] However, they are not fully committed to the exchange because they demand a lot in return. They want a good young player in the league to be included in a big compensation package. I was told no one boarded the boat from Nashville. That’s right because they like to count on him,” LeBrun explained on TSN.
Saros has a four-year, $20 million contract that runs through the end of the 2024-25 season and will then be eligible for full free agency.