Predators Keep Saros For Now, But All Options Are on the Table

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and the Nashville Predators' future in goal remains a mystery.

The Predators have an embarrassment of riches between the pipes, so it surprised much of the hockey world that general manager Barry Trotz chose not to deal any of the team's goaltenders at the deadline.

After the deadline passed on March 8, Trotz addressed his decision to keep Nashville's goaltending tandem intact for the remainder of the season and his approach to the team's future at the position. 

Lankinen Survives the Deadline

Backup goalie Kevin Lankinen, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this offseason, appeared to be the least likely of the Predators' netminders to finish the season with Nashville. However, his role in the team's active 11-game point streak (10-0-1) made Trotz wary of disrupting the team's roster too much as they make a playoff push.

"I would probably say if we were in full sell mode that [Lankinen] probably wouldn't have finished here," Trotz said. "But... our team has played and made their statement, so I have to honor that."

Trotz said he got a few inquiries about Lankinen from other teams before the trade deadline, but "nothing that got really serious." In his first start for Nashville after the deadline, Lankinen turned aside 33 shots to left the Predators to a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 9.

Predators 'Have Time' with Saros

Starting goaltender and former Vezina Trophy finalist Juuse Saros had also been identified in many NHL trade rumors as a player who could be moved before the deadline. However, his name has effectively been off the trade block since Feb. 28, when Trotz told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun: "I don’t suspect anything coming... We’re pretty safe in saying he’s going to be here."

Saros comes with a hefty price tag, and Trotz felt that none of the offers he received ahead of the trade deadline were substantial enough to justify Nashville parting with its star goaltender.

"Juuse Saros has played extremely well in this league and is a superstar in this league," Trotz said. "I wasn't going to accept inadequate stuff from other teams, unproven stuff from other teams."

Saros, who is set to become a UFA in 2025, is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Predators beginning July 1. But Trotz believes time is on his side, and he doesn't view that date as a deadline to have a decision made on Saros' future in Nashville.

"When you have time, you want to use it," he said. "I think that gives you a lot of clarity."

What About Askarov?

Trotz said that Nashville's future between the pipes would be "situational" and indicated that, at this point, he is just as open to trading Saros this offseason as he is to signing him to an extension.

"I can give you a bunch of situations," Trotz said. "If something comes along from now until July 1, then maybe that situation gets defined and clear."

One of those potential situations would be keeping Saros around next season and recalling highly touted prospect Yaroslav Askarov from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, providing the latter with a safety net as he adjusts to playing full-time at the NHL level.

Trotz made an example of All-Star goalie Ben Bishop and rising star Andrei Vasilevskiy, who shared the Tampa Bay Lightning net from 2014 until 2017, when the former was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline to open the door for the latter to become Tampa Bay's number one netminder. 

"I think we're in a great situation with our goaltending going forward," Trotz said. "We have one fantastic NHL goalie who is a superstar, and we have one goalie in the minors who looks like he's a superstar at the minor league level."