That makes the idea of representing the Nashville Predators at the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, SN, TVAS, NHL LIVE) feel almost surreal to the 26-year-old goalie.
"It's pretty cool," Saros said. "As a kid I grew up playing PlayStation and I remember playing as one All-Star team and your buddy takes the other All-Star team because it was always the best players, so it's kind of funny and cool at the same time to think I can be a part of that now. I'm excited for that."
Saros said he is less excited for the wide-open, defense-optional style of play, joking he'll have to take extra time to "warm up the groins" heading into the 3-on-3 format. If anyone is equipped for the unique challenges of an All-Star Game, it's Saros, who has used incredible skating to overcome a relative lack of size (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) in a position dominated by big goalies.
He will be the first under 6-foot to play in the NHL All-Star Game since 5-foot-11 Jaroslav Halak of the New York Islanders in 2015.
If anything, the style required for Saros to thrive might be perfect for an All-Star Game, 6-foot-5 former teammate Pekka Rinne said.
"He's so quick and uses his feet better than most guys and the way he reads the game, the way he reads shots, he is just so patient," the retired goalie said. "I always had good hands, so when there was a shot, I would automatically drop down and make saves on my knees and trust my hands. But Juuse, being a smaller guy, he waits until the very last moment and stays on his edges and that is very fake resistant and helps him a lot because he's able to stay on his edges."
Rinne, who retired July 13 after 13 NHL seasons with the Predators, played three NHL All-Star Games (2016, 2018 and 2019). The patience he references has helped Saros become one of the best goalies in the NHL this season, his first as a full-time starter.
Saros is 24-11-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average, two shutouts and a .927 save percentage that is third among goalies to play at least 10 games. He leads the NHL in starts (38), minutes played (2,251:02) and shots faced (1,210).
"We can't talk enough of how deserving [Saros] is of going to the All-Star Game," said Roman Josi, a defenseman also representing the Predators. "He's been our best player all year. What he's done for us this year is pretty unbelievable. I've said before I think he's the best goalie in the league and he's won us so many games, so obviously well-deserved."
Saros began to take the job from Rinne midway through last season.
"I always liked playing a lot, so I'm trying to enjoy it as much as I can and whenever I get the chance to step on the ice, I just try to make the most of it and give the team a chance," Saros said. "But when you're playing so much, the challenge is to keep yourself mentally and physically fresh so you're always ready to go."
That can be difficult. Managing the needs of the body sometimes comes at the expense of position-specific sessions with a goaltending coach before or after practice because of the need for rest. Saros has relied more on video sessions with Predators goaltending coach Ben Vanderklok to find that balance as the busiest goalie in the NHL.
"It's kind of a fine line," Saros said. "Obviously, you've got to work on some stuff for your game, so you don't get rusty in some situations, but at the same time you kind of have to listen to your body too. We watch the tape. and if something pops out, we always try to make the adjustments, especially on small things."
Saros said it's special to get his first NHL All-Star Game invitation in the first season after Rinne retired. Though the feeling is mutual, Rinne, his on- and off-ice mentor, said he isn't surprised by it.
"He's such a special goalie," Rinne said.
