Report: Predators, Saros agree on 8-year deal with $7.74M AAV

The Nashville Predators and goaltender Juuse Saros agreed on an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $7.74 million, reports TSN's Chris Johnston.

Saros has one season remaining on his current deal with a $5-million cap hit and is eligible to sign a new pact on Monday.

The 29-year-old had a bit of a down year by his lofty standards this past season, but he still posted 35 wins - tied for the sixth most in the NHL - and a .906 save percentage.

The Predators were one of the best teams after the All-Star break, closing out the season on a 21-7-3 run. Saros was key to that success, collecting a 16-5-3 record and a .912 save percentage over that span.

Saros registered a .900 clip and a 2.02 goals against average in the playoffs before Nashville was eliminated by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round.

The Finn made over 60 starts in each of the last three seasons - making him the league's busiest goalie during that time - and he finished within the top six in Vezina Trophy voting the past four campaigns. He was named a finalist for the hardware in 2022.

Saros ranked within the top 10 among all goalies in both goals saved above average and goals saved above expected at all strengths from the 2020-21 season to the 2022-23 campaign, according to Evolving-Hockey.

His reported cap hit will make him the fifth-highest-paid active netminder under contract in 2025-26, though New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is also eligible to sign a new deal on July 1.

The Predators selected Saros in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He owns a career .917 save percentage and 182-119-32 record.