Predators lock down superstar Saros with hefty extension

*Photo from Nashville Hockey Now*

   Nope, this superstar's not getting traded. The Nashville Predators and G Juuse Saros have agreed to an 8 year, $61.92 million contract extension, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The Predators haven't confirmed the news.

   The deal cannot be made official until July 1, when Saros officially enters the last year of his current contract and becomes eligible to sign an extension. The deal pays the Finnish goalie $7.74 million annually and is expected to start when the 2025-2026 season begins, right after his current contract is set to expire.

   For next season, Saros is due $5 million in the last year of his current deal. Saros finished in 5th place in Vezina Trophy voting this past season. In the past two years, he has played the most games among NHL goalies along with facing the most shots and making the most saves.

   Saros is fresh off his 9th season in the NHL, all of which have been with the Predators. He ended the year with a 35-24-5 record to go with a .906 save percentage and 2.86 GAA, recording 3 shutouts in 64 games, all starts. He had a 2.02 GAA and .900 save percentage in 6 starts in the playoffs.

   The 35 wins Saros had last year are good for a tie for 6th most in the NHL. In each of the last 3 seasons, Saros has exceeded 60 starts in the regular season and has been in the top 6 for the Vezina Trophy all 3 times. From the short 2021 season to 2022-2023, Saros ranked within the top 10 in active goalies in goals saved above average and goals saved above expected.

   All 9 of Saros' NHL seasons have come with the Predators as a 4th round draft pick by them in 2013. He has a 182-119-32 record with a 2.63 GAA, .917 save percentage, and 23 shutouts in 333 starts and 350 total appearances. In the playoffs, he has a 2.45 GAA and .911 save percentage in 23 games.

   When the deal becomes official, Saros will become the 5th highest paid active goalie, behind only Ilya Sorokin, Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Sergei Bobrovsky. However, that might not last long as Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers is also eligible to sign an extension on July 1.