Nashville's massive first day of Free Agency continued Monday as Brady Skjei joined Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in joining the Predators after he signed a seven-year deal worth $49.0 million ($7.0M AAV). The 30-year-old spent his first nine NHL seasons between New York and Carolina and had a career year in 2023-24 with 13 goals, 47 points, 40 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus in 80 games played.
Saros is entering the final year of a four-year deal that carries a $5.0M AAV cap-hit. When he can officially sign this contract extension on Monday, he'll have the sixth-highest AAV among goalies for the 2025-26 season, but likely the seventh or eighth after Igor Shesterkin and Jeremy Swayman get their new deals. The 28-year-old is coming off one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, going 35-24-5 with a 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. While it was the third-straight season he's won 30-plus games, Saros was 36th out of 54 qualified goalies in GSAx/60 (-0.050). With the massive new deal, the Predators are obviously banking that 2024 was just a one-off.
Gibson was the Red Wings' 2023 2nd-round pick (42nd overall) but has been traded to Nashville for Jesse Kiiskinen and a 2024 2nd-round pick. The 19-year-old defenseman has spent the last three seasons with the Soo Greyhounds (OHL) and had 12 goals and 44 points in 68 games in 2023-24.
With Egor Afanasyev looking for a way out of Nashville if he didn't get more ice time next season, San Jose jumped all over the rumours and acquired the 23-year-old towering left-winger in a one-for-one trade for right-winger Ozzy Wieblatt. Wiesblatt was San Jose's 2020 first-round pick (31st overall) and spent the 2023-24 season with both San Jose (AHL) and Milwaukee (AHL). In his second AHL season since making the jump from the WHL, he had only four goals and 17 points combined in 50 games played.
Hoglander has been a healthy scratch for Vancouver's previous two games but is expected to draw back into the lineup for Ilya Mikheyev on Thursday for Game 5. The 23-year-old has vastly underperformed in the playoffs after scoring 24 goals in the regular season, with one assist, four SOG, two PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in eight games played.
With Texas (AHL) officially eliminated from the playoffs, Mavrik Bourque has been recalled as playoff depth for the Stars' as they look to proceed into the third round on Wednesday. The 22-year-old has already appeared in one playoff game in Dallas' opening round series, picking up two SOG across 10:56 TOI/GP.
Hoglander has struggled so far in his first career playoff action and is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 3 on Sunday in Edmonton. The 23-year-old scored 24 goals during the regular season but has only one assist, four SOG, two PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through eight playoff games so far.
Saros stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Predators' Game 5 win in Vancouver. Through five games, Saros is 2-3 with a 2.21 GAA and .879 SV%. The Predators have done an outstanding job in front of Saros, allowing just 18.2 shots against per game and the lowest xGA/60 (2.27) in the postseason.
Saros stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Predators' Game 5 win in Vancouver. Through five games, Saros is 2-3 with a 2.21 GAA and .879 SV%. The Predators have done an outstanding job in front of Saros, allowing just 18.2 shots against per game and the lowest xGA/60 (2.27) in the postseason.
With Texas (AHL) reaching the second round of the AHL playoffs, Mavrik Bourque has been loaned back to the Stars to continue their playoff push. The 22-year-old will make a much welcomed return after he led Texas in scoring during the regular season with 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games played.
The Predators will unsurprisingly turn to Saros with their season on the line on Tuesday as they look to claw back from a 3-1 series deficit. Saros had another disappointing performance in Game 4 on Sunday, allowing four goals on just 21 shots as the Canucks came back to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory in overtime. Saros' SV% on the series sits uncharacteristically low at .859, and he will no doubt need to do a lot better than that if the Predators are going to have any chance of getting back in this series.
Nashville will turn back to Saros for Game 3 on Friday at home after he impressed in Game 2 by stopping 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in a road victory to even the series. The 29-year-old had yet another strong regular season this year with his 35-24-5 record, 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. He will look to take a series lead on Friday as Nashville hosts Vancouver, who will look to get back to their scoring ways after finishing the regular season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.4).
With both Mason Marchment and Radek Faksa day-to-day, Mavrik Bourque has been recalled and will be used for Game 3 on Saturday if need be. The 22-year-old centre is coming off a sensational season with Texas (AHL) where he had 26 goals, 77 points and 32 PIMs in 71 games played.
Hague missed Game 2 due to a lower-body injury and will remain out on Saturday as Vegas hosts Dallas for Game 3. The 25-year-old has missed a total of eight regular season games in the last two season and had two goals, 12 points, 43 PIMs and 105 SOG in 73 games this year.
Lyubushkin was away from the Maple Leafs on Friday due to the birth of his child but is expected to be ready to play on Saturday for Game 4 vs. Boston. The 30-year-old shutdown defenseman has played well since being acquired at the trade deadline and has one assist, one SOG, two PIMs, and a +2 plus/minus in the first three games of the playoffs.
