Imagine a world in which Juuse Saros is available before the NHL’s March 8 trade deadline.
Let me be clear in saying that the Nashville Predators have not put Saros on the trade market. He’s got another year on his deal left at $5 million, and they still plan on trying to extend him this summer.
But if teams want to really step up … more on that in a moment.
When I last saw Preds general manager Barry Trotz, at the November GM meetings in Toronto, I asked him about Saros’ future. This was his response: “When it comes to Saros, my intentions are: I met with his agent. I’d like to re-sign him. I told them that’s our intention. We’re obviously in a little bit of a re-tool type of situation and when we get reset here, I’d like him to be part of the backbone.”
That is likely still the path forward for Nashville.
What’s changed is the market itself, with a need for goaltending help in several spots. Because of that, my understanding is that Trotz won’t hang up the phone if a team makes a serious, serious offer for the 28-year-old Saros. That doesn’t mean the call would lead to a trade, but the Preds feel they have to at least listen and consider the possibility.
Saros hasn’t been his normal self this year, but who’s kidding who: He would top any contender’s wish list looking for a serious goalie upgrade. And the fact you could get him for at least two playoff runs would also be mighty appealing.
But will a team step up in a meaningful way?
What the Predators don’t want is draft picks only. A low first-round pick(s) from a contender isn’t going to move the needle. An example of a conversation that might move the needle, and this is just theoretical to illustrate what’s at play, but if the Kings started a conversation with Quinton Byfield as part of a package, that would get Nashville’s attention. It needs to be a young, front-line NHL player for the Predators to get into a Saros trade conversation.
And don’t forget, the Preds believe strongly that 2020 first-round pick Yaroslav Askarov has the goods (.926 save percentage in AHL this season) to be a stud NHL starter. Of course, it could be Askarov who moves eventually instead if Nashville extends Saros this summer as planned. Askarov was involved in a few trade conversations in June at the draft in Nashville when the Predators attempted to move up into the top five picks unsuccessfully.
Will Saros move before March 8? Not likely. But unlike three months ago, it doesn’t sound impossible.
GO DEEPER
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Wide open field?
One of the interesting narratives that I’m starting to pick up on, in conversations with front offices around the league seven weeks out from the trade deadline, is that there’s a growing feeling that the field is wide open and that the parity could affect buyers and sellers alike.
Every Cup contender has a flaw or two, and on the flip side, I think playoff bubble teams are looking at things right now and wondering if they could be this year’s Florida Panthers if they can just make it in.
The potential impact is two-fold: 1) Higher seeds may not feel they’re just one addition away from assuring a deep playoff run, so maybe they’re not going “all-in” with their trade deadline approaches and instead will keep their powder dry with the assets they normally trade away. And 2) You might get a bubble team with a pending unrestricted free agent saying, “Why don’t we keep him in case we get in because the field is pretty open.” The so-called own-rental.
For example, I give you the Penguins. If you’re them and you’re right on the playoff bubble come the first week of March, do you take the best trade offer for pending UFA Jake Guentzel or keep him onboard with the idea that if you get in, you might just win the East?
I mean, who had the Panthers upsetting the 135-point Bruins last spring?
Food for thought.
Let’s go…
This article was originally published by a theathletic.com . Read the Original article here. .