As the NHL’s March 8 trade deadline approaches, the Nashville Predators chances to make the playoffs have increased substantially. As such, it’s beginning to look like 28-year-old goaltender Juuse Saros will stay between Nashville’s pipes instead of elsewhere for the rest of this season’s playoff chase.
Saros, who has one more year left on his contract after this season, looked like a trade deadline candidate when February began. Nashville sat at 26-23-2 following a 4-2 home loss to Los Angeles, and it was tied for eighth in the Western Conference with St. Louis at 54 points.
To aid in your quest in finding the best Tennessee sportsbooks to use during the rest of the NHL season, BetTennessee.com looked at the odds for where the Predators’ No. 1 goalie could be headed.
Juuse Saros Trade Odds
Heating Up at the Right Time
The New Jersey Devils, who started February in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, have the best odds at +1500 if Nashville decided to move Saros. The Los Angeles Kings have the second-best odds at +2000, while the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes come in tied for third at +3000. Remember that you can earn bonuses while betting on these odds while using TN sportsbook promos.
But lowest odds are with “Other/Stay With the Predators,” which makes a lot of sense. Since Feb. 1, the Predators are 8-2 with 14 points, and Saros is 5-2 in that stretch with four straight wins after Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over Ottawa. That still leaves Nashville tied for eighth, but now it’s tied with Los Angeles and both teams are five points ahead of ninth-place Calgary and six ahead of St. Louis and Minnesota.
That puts both teams squarely in charge of the Western Conference Wild Card spots. The Predators are nine points behind the Colorado Avalanche, who are third in the Central Division. The Kings are only two points behind Edmonton for third in the Pacific Division.
Saros, who’s in his fourth season as Nashville’s No. 1 goalie since taking the spot previously held by Pekka Rinne, has improved his season record to 24-21-0-2. Saros allowed four goals in a 9-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Feb. 15, but he’s held opponents to six goals in a four-game win streak over the Blues, Kings, Sharks and Senators.
That has him looking more like the goaltender who won 38 and 33 games, respectively, in the past two seasons. However, Nashville missed the playoffs by three points in 2023 and they were swept in the first round in 2022. That’s one reason why the Predators seemed to be OK entertaining thoughts of trading Saros. However, as long as they stay in playoff contention, Saros seems like he’ll be around after March 8.
However, should Nashville fall out of this hot streak, it might signal a move to turn to 2020 first-round pick Yaroslav Askarov. The 21-year-old Russian is 21-7-1 this season with the Milwaukee Admirals and he boasts a 2.11 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and five shutouts.
For now, odds are those great numbers stay in Milwaukee as long as Nashville and Saros keep winning. BetMGM Tennessee lists Edmonton and Florida as the Stanley Cup favorites at +800. The Predators are +10000.
