Make the Nashville Predators an offer they can’t refuse and goalie Juuse Saros might end up elsewhere in the NHL at the trade deadline. According to Pierre LeBrun, a Saros trade is not completely off the table ahead of the March 8 deadline even though the Predators still hold a preference in re-signing the netminder this summer. This is what LeBrun reported on last night’s edition of Insider Trading on TSN.
“There is a possibility, and it’s amazing that those words are coming out of my mouth because Nashville has been so steady in saying their only plan is to extend Saros this summer. It remains the No. 1 plan, but what has changed since the start of the year is the number of teams that are desperate to upgrade their goaltending. Because of that, I’m told that the Predators feel that they have no choice but to listen to teams if they put in a serious, serious offer.
“What I mean by that is don’t put down a couple of first-round picks, which would be in the low 20s for the Predators. That’s not going to get [general manager] Barry Trotz to blink. Let’s take the Los Angeles Kings as an example, if they put down a name like Quinton Byfield as part of a package, that would get the attention of the Predators, or any organization if they want to get in on Saros.
“It’s a huge name and they still intend on signing him, but it’s something to monitor before March 8.”
Despite Saros’ numbers being down this season with a 18-16-1 record with a .903 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average through 35 games, he remains one of the top goaltenders in the league that could get a lot of attention from rival clubs and contenders heading closer to the beginning of March. Saros is signed through next season at a cap hit of $5 million
Ahead of Friday night’s action, the Predators sit in the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference with 51 points through 45 games, but remain vulnerable to missing the postseason for the second straight time. Last year, Nashville did not qualify and missed the playoffs, ending an eight-year postseason streak.
And so while the focus remains on keeping Saros in Music City, it does not sound impossible for the Predators to consider an offer for his services ahead of the deadline, especially if they are out of playoff contention ahead of the big day.
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