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Nashville Predators: Players With Growing Expectations, Pressure Next Season

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 13: Kevin Fiala #22 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with teammates Ryan Ellis #4 and Craig Smith #15 after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period at Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 13: Kevin Fiala #22 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with teammates Ryan Ellis #4 and Craig Smith #15 after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period at Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators tends net against the Minnesota Wild during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on December 30, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators tends net against the Minnesota Wild during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on December 30, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Juuse Saros

Any fears that Juuse Saros wasn’t ready to take over for Pekka Rinne were put to rest last season. Saros rose to the occasion when his number was called, especially when you take out his first few starts of the season.  With more starts, he may have even been in the Vezina Trophy conversation. Obviously that award went to Rinne, which goes to show you how stacked the Predators are at the position.

Saros logged a career high in starts with 23, and I expect that number to go up to over 30 starts next season. Now that we know he’s more than capable of taking over as the full-time goaltender, the expectations will be much higher. We don’t want to see him regress. The Predators may still have Rinne to get the bulk of the starts, but eventually it’s going to be Saros’ net.

Up until now, the expectations have always been to step in to give Rinne rest on a back-to-back. That’s no longer the case. Saros will have to win tougher starts as the team is going to turn to him more often.

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