”Askarov gonna be traded?": Fans react as Preds sign Juuse Saros to new long extension 

Nashville Predators fans were buzzing with excitement as reports confirmed the team reached a significant agreement with goaltender Juuse Saros.

According to NHL Insiders like Elliote Friedman and Frank Seravalli, the Predators have laid out the framework for an eight-year contract extension, expected to be finalized after Monday. Valued at nearly $62 million, the deal sets Saros' salary cap hit at approximately $7.74 million until the 2032-33 NHL season.

Saros placed fifth in Vezina Trophy voting as the league's top goaltender after leading Nashville to the playoffs. The Finnish netminder has thrived both as a tandem partner with Pekka Rinne and later as the Predators' undisputed starter. In the past two seasons, Saros has led the league in games played, shots faced and saves.

Predators fans took to X/Twitter with a mix of excitement and anticipation following the extension, as discussions also turned to potential roster moves and trades that could accompany Juuse Saros' new deal.

One fan asked:

"Askarov gonna be traded?"

Another fan expressed their thoughts on how the deal could affect prospect Russian Yaroslav Askorov, who currently plays for the Milwaukee Admirals:

"So they are openly lowering the value of Askorov lol?"

More reactions followed as fans voiced their opinions on X:

"That would be a solid deal," one fan said.

"8 years???? WILD," another fan reacted.

"Wow that’s a steal," another fan said.

"Take that Saros haters," one fan chimed in.

"Askarov is gone . Will definitely force a trade," one fan pointed.

"Sign and trade?" one fan questioned.

Las͏t se͏ason alon͏e, ͏Saro͏s posted im͏pre͏ss͏i͏ve numbers w͏ith a 35-24-͏5 record, ͏a .906 save p͏er͏centage and a 2.86 goa͏ls-agai͏nst average that included thr͏ee shutouts͏. His career stats are equally stellar, boast͏in͏g a͏n 182-1͏19-32 record, a͏ .917 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average across͏ 3͏50 ͏ga͏mes.

Predators͏ fa͏ith͏ful celebrated Juuse Saros'͏ extensio͏n, highlighting hi͏s Vezina Tro͏phy finalist status in 2021͏-22, where he amasse͏d a 38-25-͏3 rec͏or͏d, a .9͏18 save percentage and a 2.64͏ goals-against average. W͏ith Saros f͏ir͏m͏ly anchored in Na͏shvill͏e͏'s lineup ͏for years to co͏me, fan͏s eager͏ly a͏nticipat͏e cont͏inued excellence and͏ ͏furt͏her͏ pl͏ayoff success.

Predators GM reflects on keeping Juuse Saros

Nashville Predat͏ors Gene͏ra͏l Manager Barry Trotz addressed specu͏lation surrou͏nding Saros and͏ Askarov, emphasizi͏ng ͏his relucta͏n͏ce to͏ entert͏ain trade offers for either͏ g͏oal͏tende͏r. T͏rot͏z ͏asserted his commitment to retaining Saros earlier, highlighting his importance to the team's future:

"I have no desire to trade [Saros or Askarov]. I would say the chances [of trading either] are nil, almost.… There's a couple of teams that have called me about our situation here, but I am totally fine with where we are at [keeping Saros and Askarov]," Trotz said.

Despite Juuse Saros' rumored interest from multiple NHL teams, including the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, Trotz emphasized his satisfaction with their current goaltending depth.

Regarding Askarov's potential, the GM acknowledged the Russian netminder as a key part of Nashville's future plans, suggesting a continued 1A-1B goalie strategy reminiscent of Saros and Pekka Rinne's successful tandem from 2016 to 2020.