Pekka Rinne may have backstopped the Predators to their 31st and final victory of the 2020-21 regular season on Monday night, but his protégé had 21 of those wins to his name, and he deserves to be in conversation for the Vezina Trophy because of his heroics.
The Preds always believed Juuse Saros would one day be a starting goaltender in the NHL, and over the past four months, the 26-year-old Finn has proved them right. In particular, Saros played an invaluable role in Nashville's turnaround in the second half of the season that saw them go 20-7-1 down the stretch to clinch the fourth and final postseason spot in the Central Division.
Simply put, the Predators would not be preparing to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the coming days if it weren't for Saros.
For that reason - and so many more - he deserves consideration as the NHL's top goaltender.
Saros Deserves Consideration for Vezina Trophy as NHL's Top Goaltender
Nashville Netminder Deserving of Nomination for Vezina Trophy After Career-Best Season for Predators
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