With Askarov gone, is there young goaltending talent within the organization?
By Anthony Pellegrino @apelle50 IceInsider.com Owner
Boston-- When the Predators drafted goaltender Yaroslav Askarov out of the KHL, he was expected to emerge as the eventual franchise starting goaltender. Drafted 11th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Level Draft, he was highly regarded as one of the top goaltending prospects signed by an NHL team. Yesterday, he was traded to San Jose. What's the goaltending situation look like in Nashville without Askarov?
Juuse Saros
Nashivlle's longtime starting goaltender Juuse Saros ranks first on the goaltending depth list. Taking on the starting role from the franchise star Pekka Rinne, he's had big shoes to fill. Quite literally, as Rinne, 41, stands at roughly 6'5 while Saros is the shortest goaltender in the league, at 5'10.
Saros, 29, inked an eight-year extension to remain in Nashville over the summer. Historically, starting goaltenders in a similar spot that Saros is in, shy away from the starting goaltender role at around 34 years old. Meaning to exepct Saros to remain Nashville's starter for the next five seasons. Possibly the last three on his contract, in a tandem or backup goaltending role with the team.
The teams number one goaltender, appeared in 64 regular season games over the course of the 2023-2024 season. With 35 wins and 24 losses, posting a .906 SV% and 2.86 GAA, Saros has remained one of the most consisntent goaltenders in the leauge over the course of the rougly past decade. Saros has appeared in at least 64+ games over the past few three seasons.
Scott Wedgewood
Free agent signing Scott Wedgewood, is slated to backup Saros for the next two seasons. He signed a 2 year , $3,000,000 contract with the Nashville Predators over the summer. Wedgewood has been a consistent backup to Jake Ottinger the past three seasons.
Picked by New Jersey in the third round (48th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft, he's appeared in a total of 130 NHL games, over the past six seasons. Split between the New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, and Dallas Stars.
Last season, he posted a 16-7-5 record with a .899 SV% and 2.85 GAA.
Matt Murray
Another free agent goaltender signed by Nashville this summer, is Matt Murray. He signed a 1 year , $775,000 contract with the Nashville Predators, expecting to split a role in Milwaukee, Nashville's AHL affiliate.
Murray, 26, spent parts of the past three seasons with the Dallas Organization; likewise with Wedgwood. Appearing in 71 AHL games, one more season in the American League could earn Murray a spot on an NHL roster.
Murray went 14-15-2 with a .896 SV% and 3.02 GAA in 31 games with the Texas Stars, Dallas AHL affialte. Murray also went 23/23 during his lone 2023-2024 NHL game with Dallas.
Magnus Chrona
Acquired in return as part of the Askarov Trade, Chrona is expected to split time with Murray in Milwaukee.
Chrona, native of Sweden, is coming off his first pro season split between San Jose's NHL, AHL, and ECHL teams. Following four seasons at University of Denver where he appeared in 114 NCAA games.
Chrona, listed at 6'6 had a rough start to his NHL career, with a 1-7 record in nine NHL games, and a .859 SV% and 4.71 GAA. During his time in the AHL, Magnus went 6-17-6 with a .894 SV% and 3.49 GAA. In his two ECHL appearences, he put up a .940 SV% and 2.94 GAA.
Jakub Milota
Jakub Milota was drafted by Nashville in the 2024 NHL Entry Level Draft, in the fourth round (99th Overall). Playing with the Cape Brenton Eagles last season, he will be back with the QMJHL junior team this season.
He appeared in 33 games with Cape Brenton, going 18-11-1 with a .905 SV% and 2.82. Milota, 22, also represented Czechia his home country, as part of the World Juniors.
While his talent will continue to develop, Milota is still years away from forming into the NHL picture. Possibly, once Saros takes a step back from his starting role?
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