Juuse Saros

Saros was born in Forssa but grew up in Hämeenlinna. He played his entire youth career and first three professional seasons with hometown club, HPK of the Liiga. On 16 June 2015, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators, having been drafted by Nashville in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Saros was named to the 2012–13 Jr. A SM-Liiga All-Star Team and was a member of Team Finland at the IIHF U18 World Junior Championships where he was named the tournament's Best Goaltender.[2]

Saros was on the Finland Team in the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey Championships.[3]

Upon concluding the 2014–15 in Finland, Saros signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators to begin his professional career in North America.[4] After attending the Predators training camp, Saros was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, to begin the 2015–16 season.[5] Saros recorded an impressive 8–2–0 record, a 2.40 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage through 10 games with the Admirals. As a result of his play and various injuries to the lineup, Saros was recalled to the NHL level on 28 November 2015.[6] He subsequently made his NHL debut that night and stopped 20 shots in a 4–1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.[7] Upon returning to the AHL, Saros continued his winning streak and recorded an eight-game win streak from 5 November to 5 December.[8] Saros picked up another five game winning streak in late February and early March while also leading all rookies with a 2.34 goals-against average.[9] He finished his rookie season compiling a 29–10–0 record while also making over 1,000 saves in 40 games.[10] As a result of his impressive rookie season, Saros was named to the AHL's All-Rookie Team.[8]

Following his impressive rookie season, Saros participated in the Predators prospect tournament and training camp before being reassigned to the AHL for the 2016–17 season.[11] In his first three games with the Admirals, Saros posted a 3–0–0 record with a .964 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average.[12] He earned his first emergency callup of the season on 22 October and made his NHL season debut the following night. Saros made 34 saves in his first NHL win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 23 October 2016.[13] Immediately following the game, Saros was one of three players reassigned to the AHL.[14] His next recall would come weeks later on 8 November. At the time of the recall, he had earned three more wins and one loss while posting a 1.99 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.[15] Saros was returned to the AHL on 16 November[16] but was recalled again on 24 November.[17] Despite his numerous recalls in November, Saros earned the AHL's CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month award for going 5-0-0 with a 1.37 goals-against average and .955 save percentage during the month.[18] He eventually earned his first career NHL shutout in his seventh NHL game on 30 December 2016 by making 25 saves against the St. Louis Blues.[19] Despite only playing in 13 games for the Admirals, Saros was named to the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic on 5 January.[20] While remaining at the NHL level through January, Saros recorded a career-high 35 saves on the way to his fourth victory of the season in a 2–1 win over the Boston Bruins.[21] Throughout his eight starts of the season, Saros recorded a .950 save percentage by allowing only 12 goals on 242 shots.[22] After playing in two more games for the Predators, Saros was assigned to the AHL on 4 February.[23] He was recalled again later in the month and played two more games before rejoining the Admirals on 12 February.[24] Saros later tied his career high 35 saves, including 19 in the first period alone, to lift the Predators to a 4–3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on 19 February.[25] By the end of February, Saros sported a 7–5–3 record and his 2.21 goals against average eighth among NHL goalies.[26] Throughout the month of March, Saros improved his record to 9–8–3 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.[27] As the Predators clinched a spot in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, Saros finished the regular season with a 10–8–3 record, a 2.35 goals-against average, and .923 save percentage in 21 games.[28] He served as backup to Pekka Rinne throughout the Predaors playoff berth and did not play a minute until the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals.[29] Saros made his NHL postseason debut during Game 2 after Rinne was pulled after allowing four goals on 25 shots. Saros made two saves in his debut as the Predators fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1.[30] He played his second postseason game in Game 5 of the Finals after Rinne let in three goals on nine shots in the first period.[31]

Saros with the Nashville Predators in 2022.

Leading up to the 2017–18 season, Saros was listed as a Rookie To Watch by NHL.com. He was expected to continue serving as backup for Rinne and play around 25–30 games.[28] Saros started in net three times in October but all ended with poor results.[32] He earned his first win of the season on 4 November against the Los Angeles Kings[33] but was reassigned to the Admirals on 16 November.[34] Saros appeared in two games for Milwaukee during the reassignment, losing both games, before he rejoined the Predators on 20 November.[35] He made one more start in November, with the Predators losing in overtime, before rejoining the Admirals. Saros appeared in two more games for the Admirals before rejoining the Predators on 3 December.[36] Upon returning to the lineup, Saros recorded a career-best 43 saves in a 5–2 win over the Dallas Stars on 5 December.[37] After another assignment to the Admirals,[38] Saros beat his career-high by setting a franchise record for the most saves in a shutout on 14 December 2017. During the 4–0 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Saros recorded 46 saves to clinch the franchise record and lead the Predators to their 15th win in 19 games.[39] By the end of the month, Saros had a record of 3–0–1 by allowing only five goals and stopping 169 of 174 shots against in five appearances.[40] He also maintained a 1.54 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage over seven games. Saros ended 2017 with a shutout to help the Predators end their three-game losing streak and move into first place in the Central Division.[41] During the Predators five-day bye week, Saros was assigned to the Admirals.[42] He went 2–1–0 in a three-game stint with Milwaukee, stopping 94 of 97 shots against, before returning to the NHL.[43] By mid-February, Saros had a 6–5–5 record, a .926 save percentage, and a 2.39 goals-against average. He earned praise from Predators' coach Peter Laviolette who stated that the team had confidence in him.[44] By mid-March, Saros helped the Predators match their franchise record of 14 consecutive games with at least a point and clinch a playoff spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.[45] On 29 March, Saros made 39 saves to help the Predators set a new franchise point record with 111 points.[46] Saors subsequently concluded the 2017–18 regular season with an 11–5–7 record, a 2.44 goals-against average, and .925 save percentage. He also finished the season ranked ninth among all NHL goaltenders in save percentage. Saros became the second Predators player to be named to the All-Rookie Team since Filip Forsberg in 2014–15.[47] During the playoffs, Saros did not allow a goal in 65:11 before replacing Rinne in Game 7 of their Western Conference Second Round matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. After Rinne let in two goals, Saros allowed one goal in the second period and one in the third, making 14 saves in the 5–1.[48]

Following their elimination from the 2018 playoffs, Saros signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract extension to remain with the Predators on 16 July.[49] Unlike the previous season, Saros began the 2018–19 season with a 3–0–0 record, a 2.22 GAA, and .917 save percentage. Once Rinne was placed on injured reserve on 20 October, Saros became the Predators' new full-time starter.[50][51] While Rinne was injured, Saros added three more wins and maintained a 2.50 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.[52] On 24 January, Saros stopped a career-best 47 shots as the Predators defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 2–1.[53] A few months later, on 25 March, Saros made 29 saves in a win over the Minnesota Wild to help the Predators clinch a berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.[54] Saros finished the 2018–19 regular season with a 17–10–2 record, a 2.62 goals against average, a .915 save percentage, and three shutouts over 31 games.[55] When the Predators met the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference First Round, Saros played one game in relief for Rinne after he relinquished four goals in the first period of Game 4. He made 20 saves in relief as the Stars won the game 5–1.[56]

The following season, Saros played a then career-high 40 games during the shortened 2019–20 season.[57] He began the season as the steadfast backup to Rinne but they transitioned into an even split rather than starter/backup roles as the season continued.[58] The Predators began the season with a six-game point streak to maintain an 8–4–2 record by 2 November.[59] However, they then suffered through a six-game losing streak in November which was snapped on 23 November.[60] On 10 December, Saros made 24 saves to lift the Predators to their 800th overall win in franchise history.[61] Through 18 games by the end of December, Saros had a 5–7–3 record with a 3.23 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. He was on pace for 34 starts, the most by any of Rinne's partners since 2013–14.[58] As the Predators continued to struggle to win games, the team fired head coach Laviolette in early January and replaced him with John Hynes.[62] Under Hynes, Saros began to take up more of a starter role. When the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March, Saros had maintained a 12–5–0 in his final 17 starts dating back to 12 January. He also tied for first in shutouts, tied for third in save percentage, ranked second in wins, and fourth in goals-against average. His 11 career shutouts were also the most by any active NHL goaltender his age or younger.[57] When the NHL resumed play and the Predators faced the Arizona Coyotes in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers, Saros was tapped as the starter for Game 1. This broke Rinne's run of 89 consecutive playoff starts since 2010.[63]

On 16 August 2021, Saros was signed to a four-year, $20 million extension with the Predators.[64] The 2021–22 season was one of Saros' strongest, and he was widely credited as a key factor in the Predators qualifying for the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's best goaltender.[65] Saros suffered a foot injury in the final week of the regular season that took him out of the postseason entirely, dubbed "a real dagger" to the Predators' playoff hopes.[66] With Saros absent, the team was swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.[67] On 5 January 2023, Saros made a franchise-record 64 saves in the Predators' 5–3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.[68]