Being a goalie in the NHL is one of the most unique challenges in all of sports. The position itself is challenging due to the extra weight of the pads and the fact that most have to play all 60 minutes of the game, and the Predators have made their goalie situation awkward for this season.
As always Juuse Saros is leading the way for the Nashville Predators and he's had two backups this season. None of this is going to be good, fair warning, but it doesn't necessarily reflect solely on the goaltenders. So let's get into it.
Juuse Saros - Grade B-
Saros has just been shelled all season, and is holding up surprisingly well. His record over 33 starts (9-18-6) looks really awful, but he's been one of the only Predators that feels like he's been engaged in each and every games. His finer stats are comparable to last season, and almost half of his wins (4) have come by shutout. He's sporting a 2.78 goals against average and .903 save percentage.
Saros is being trotted out each night behind a defense that is suffering. The lineup has changed numerous times with Roman Josi missing 4 games, Alexandar Carrier being traded, Dante Fabbro being lost on waivers, Spencer Stastney missing all but 4 games so far, Jeremy Lauzon on the IR, Justin Barron coming over in a trade, Adam Wilsby playing far more than anticipated, and then ending up on the IR, Nick Blankenburg and Marc Del Gazio practically being regulars, Luke Schenn looking older and slower, and Brady Skjei looking engaged offensively and defensively insolvent.
Saros is still a bell cow, and will be going forward, but you have to wonder if the rest of this year he spends a little more time on the bench since the year is almost lost.
Justus Annunen - Grade B
Rather than go ahead and develop a young goalie to play alongside their young goalie (and have a Boston Bruins like problem in a few years) the Colorado Avalanche jettisoned Justus Annunen to the Predators in exchange for Scott Wedgewood back on Novemeber 30th.
Since then, Annunen has played in seve games for the Predators, starting six and has a record of 4-2-0. His early numbers have been really good, returning a .932 save percentage and a 2.39 goals against average.
Annunen was able to be the winning goalie for the franchise's 1,000th win on Tuesday night in a 19-save victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. He didn't face a ton of shots early in the game, but had to survive the third period onslaught to preserve the Predators win.
The good thing about Annunen is that he fills the young talented goalie void that was made with the moving of Yaroslav Askarov. The bad news is that Annunen still probably isn't getting the amount of reps that he should. A more typical goalie size (6'4" 210) Annunen has all the physical tools you'd want from a number 1 goalie, and we'll see how his development goes.
This season would be a good one for Annunen to get a few extra games and give Saros a rest. You've got another 7 years to squeeze out of him, so getting him games off when you can is a necessity.
Scott Wedgewood - Honorary Grade C-
Wedge didn't look good but helped net the Predators a solid young goalie.