Nashville Predators: Final Regular Season Grades

Juuse Saros: A+++

Juuse Saros got off to a slow start early in the season, but when you go back and look at the tape, you realize it was more the team playing in front of him. He started putting things together between the pipes, and then the real challenge came about.

Saros was injured at the same time as all seemed lost for the Predators (and they sat with a .34% chance of making the playoffs). Then, like a ray of light, Saros returned, and what he’s done since has been nothing short of incredible.

Since returning from injury on May 18, Saros ranks 1st in wins (16), 1st in Sv% among goalies with at least ten starts (.941), 4th in GAA among goalies with at least ten starts (1.90), and first in saves, with 706 against 750 shots (the most in the NHL). His numbers are unreal.

Saros is 6th in wins and 6th in Sv% among goalies with ten or more starts on the season. He may not get it, but #SarosForVezina should get going because he definitely deserves to be a finalist.

Final GPA And Extra Credit For The Nashville Predators

Overall, the Predators have a 2.5 GPA. Being generous, we’ll round that up to a B average. Still, this team wasn’t projected as a playoff team in a division with two of the former Stanley Cup Finals contenders (one of them, the Predators eliminated).

Not many may think they can pull out the W in a seven-game series against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is the class of the division.

Still, why not us? At this point, the team is primed to make a run if they can put together some strong efforts with a bit of luck.

The Predators have passed the class, and they’re on to graduation. The playoffs are our extra credit, so let’s enjoy the run.

2017 showed us anything can happen, and maybe 2021 can show us more of the same. Regardless, let’s enjoy the playoff journey on which the Predators are about to embark.