Juuse Saros and the Preds have avoided arbitration scheduled for this Wednesday, August 18, and have agreed to a 4-year, $20 million extension. This results in an AAV of $5 million. Considering the craziness of this market, it isn't too bad.
It puts faith in Saros that he gets paid for what he's done, yet still places a lot of his future in his own hands. I was fearful of rewarding him too soon and getting locked into something that puts all the risk on the Preds into the future. That's why I was willing to go to arbitration or agree to a 3-year deal. The extra year here isn't surprising, and I think Poile did nicely here.
This contract will take Saros to his 30th birthday and coincide with rising Russian-prospect, Yaroslav Askarov to begin to prove himself if he so chooses to come to the NHL once his KHL contract expires in a few years.
With the contracts essentially wrapped up, we turn our eyes to Development Camp which started this morning here in Nashville. There will be a lot of young guns out on the ice this week who, in my opinion, have a strong chance of making the team. Think names like Phillip Tomasino and David Farrance. Other future talents that have great potential will also be present like Egor Afanasyev and Zachary L'Heureux, just to name a few.
This will be a fun week to see the young Preds in action with the Future Stars Game being scheduled for 5pm CST, Thursday, August 19, at Ford Ice Center in Bellevue.
The season is quickly approaching and I cannot wait. Stay tuned for more articles as camps begin to heat up and the season starts before we know it.