Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman on the Jeff Marek Present speaking concerning the Nashville Predators goaltending state of affairs and in the event that they’d transfer Juuse Saros to present Yaroslav Askarov the online. Who would have an interest?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Marek: “One of many one of many tales that I’m nonetheless, and I feel quite a lot of us are nonetheless possibly a bit of bit puzzled by, and I’ll throw form of wildcard identify out at you, though we have now heard the identify earlier. You recognize, you talked about the Nashville Predators and that sport towards the Arizona Coyotes and I feel we’ve seemed on the Preds and type of mentioned, ‘Okay, what’s Barry Trotz attempting to do right here?’
Like there have been. and I used to be one among them who reported it final 12 months on the draft that they the Nashville Predators had been attempting to rise up larger. Possibly take a look at somebody like Will Smith, who ended up going to San Jose. Was there a deal probably, between the Preds and the San Jose Sharks, Yaroslav Askarov? The netminder for the Nashville Predators may have been a part of that deal. So then that was by no means denied. And you recognize what which means Elliotte.
However the identify Juuse Saros. Like we seemed, you recognize, what number of occasions and what number of cellphone calls and what number of conversations did we have now about Juuse Saros and a crew just like the Los Angeles Kings final 12 months a commerce deadline. Do you assume we undergo one other situation this 12 months with Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators?
We discuss lots concerning the goalie market. A number of it revolves round a participant like Jacob Markstrom for the apparent causes. How a lot do you assume we’ll be speaking about Juuse Saros come March eighth?
Friedman: “Nicely, I feel it’s doable as a result of there’s a pair issues there. You retain, you’re the, you’re the king of the Carl Taylor fan membership proper now. You retain selling him as Milwaukee..”
Marek: “14 video games in a row child.”
Friedman: “Nicely quite a lot of that, and, and the coach, the coach will get the credit score when issues go effectively and it will get the blame when issues go unsuitable. In order that’s true, however quite a lot of guys, you recognize, they bought a hell of a goalie.
And, you recognize, I feel one of many issues that type of actually occurred with Nashville was, don’t, don’t ask Askarov to do an excessive amount of, proper? Get right into a state of affairs the place, you recognize, he’s actually prepared for the NHL. Nicely, whenever you’re having the type of 12 months that man’s having, you recognize, there’s nothing to show within the American Hockey League anymore. So we bought to clear the trail for him.
Now you recognize, what, what are you able to do? You may make him the backup or, and that’s doable, however the extra I take a look at this Saros state of affairs, I see two issues. Primary, I see the Predators, they’re searching for a prime offensive participant, and people gamers are onerous to seek out, however that’s what they’re searching for. They’re searching for offense.
And, you recognize, Saros is the type of man who can get you some offense. Now, the identify Byfield has been thrown round he’s not getting you Quinton Byfield. I simply don’t assume. I don’t assume the Kings are doing that.
However there are good offensive gamers on the market. Like one man type of marvel about a bit of bit Jeff is, is a man like (Martin) Necas from from Carolina. And I don’t know if that’s one thing that might occur now. However like that’s type of a participant that I type of, I take a look at and I say ‘okay, is there a match right here that is smart?’
However the different factor too is, you recognize, Saros contract is up after subsequent 12 months. He can have an extension on July 1st. And I do marvel if Nashville’s taking a look at that and saying, ‘hey, you recognize, we love Juuse Saros however does this make sense for us?’
And, and I’ve type of marvel about that. I don’t, like no person from Nashville has mentioned to me, we don’t need to pay that or we don’t need to pay him what he’s value. However I do assume groups take a look at that. They are saying okay, you recognize, Saros on this deal. Now, what’s his subsequent deal gonna appear to be? And what’s that going to imply?
I’ll let you know the crew that I come again to with, with any goalie of any identify or any reputation in any respect within the market is, you recognize, the crew that you simply talked about on the weekend almost about Jacob Markstrom and that’s the New Jersey Devils. And for those who’re searching for…”
Friedman: “Nicely, I’ve to assume that that’s true. I’ve to assume you’re proper.
In the event that they’re going at Markstrom, they usually did, they’re interested by it.”
Marek: “Yeah. I take a look at all of the high-end veteran goaltenders that may very well be obtainable and I simply take a look at New Jersey, they usually have gamers that may rating. They’ve an abundance of youth and established gamers. They’ve first-round draft picks.
I don’t know Elliotte, I, and I do know that, you recognize, technically they’re, you recognize, they’re, they’re not out. It’ll be troublesome for New Jersey to get in. However nonetheless, if any crew when wholesome, you recognize if there’s any crew on the market that may go on a run and we noticed that final 12 months, it’s the New Jersey Devils. Particularly if they’ve netminding. I don’t know that one, simply me, to me makes, makes, makes an excessive amount of sense.”
