Juuse Saros Bio
Juuse Saros, nicknamed “Juice,” is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 19 April 1995 in Forssa, Finland, Saros was drafted in the fourth round, 99th overall, by the Predators in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. After developing in the Liiga with HPK, he transitioned to North America and gradually became one of the most reliable starting goaltenders in the league. Across junior, club, and international competition, Saros has built a reputation for calm positioning, heavy workload durability, and an ability to steal games for his team.
Early Life and Background
Juuse Saros was born on 19 April 1995 in Forssa, Finland, to parents Pekka and Leila. His father, Pekka, is a basketball official, while his mother, Leila, swam collegiately in the United States, giving Saros a strong athletic upbringing. He grew up alongside his older brother, Eemeli, and the two often played hockey together, with Saros serving as the goaltender in their driveway and basement games. Although Forssa is his birthplace, Saros played his entire youth career with HPK in nearby Hämeenlinna, the club where he would later launch his professional career.
Saros began playing ice hockey at the age of nine and originally skated as a defenceman before switching to the goaltender position at 13. As a teenager, he attended Hämeenlinna Lyceum High School, a specialized sports school in Hämeenlinna. The school allowed him to take morning classes, granted extended absences for hockey commitments, and helped him graduate in three years so he could focus on his development. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, Saros was once asked by an NHL team to undergo an x-ray to determine whether he would grow taller, a request that reflected doubts about his stature rather than his skill.
Path to Hockey
Saros rose through the HPK youth system and quickly established himself as one of Finland’s top young goaltenders. During the 2011–12 season with HPK’s U18 team in the U18 SM-sarja, he posted a 2.53 goals-against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage across 31 games. That summer, he represented Team Finland for the first time at the international level, serving as a backup at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships before helping Finland win a silver medal at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
The following season, Saros elevated his play with HPK’s junior squad, going 37 games with a 1.86 GAA and a .933 save percentage, earning a spot on the Jr. A SM-Liiga All-Star Team. He was named the best player in the league and won the Jorma Valtonen Award as the top junior goaltender. At the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships, Saros finished second among goaltenders with a 1.86 GAA and a .946 save percentage, leading Finland to a bronze medal and earning tournament Best Goaltender honors. He was later recognized locally as Hämeenlinna’s Male Athlete of the Year before being selected by the Nashville Predators in the 2013 NHL Draft.
Juuse Saros Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Following the 2013 NHL Draft, Saros joined HPK for his first professional season in the Liiga. As a rookie, he appeared in 44 games and posted a 1.76 GAA with a .923 save percentage, earning the Liiga Rookie of the Year award. He also represented Finland at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he led all goaltenders with a 1.57 GAA and was voted to the tournament all-star team as Finland captured its third World Juniors gold medal.
Saros returned to HPK for a second professional season in 2014–15, finishing with a 2.14 GAA, a .929 save percentage, and six shutouts across 47 games. He was also selected by Dinamo Minsk in the 2015 Kontinental Hockey League Draft. After the season concluded, Saros signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators and began his transition to North American professional hockey.
Nashville Predators Breakthrough (2015–2018)
Assigned to the Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, Saros opened the 2015–16 season with an 8–2–0 record, a 2.40 GAA, and a .919 save percentage through 10 games. His strong play led to an NHL recall on 28 November 2015, when he made his league debut against the Buffalo Sabres, stopping 20 shots in a 4–1 loss. He finished his AHL rookie season with a 29–10–0 record, earning a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team and a silver medal with Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Championship.
In 2016–17, Saros shuttled between Milwaukee and Nashville, recording his first NHL win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 23 October 2016 and his first career NHL shutout against the St. Louis Blues on 30 December 2016. He appeared in 21 NHL games with a 10–8–3 record, a 2.35 GAA, and a .923 save percentage, then made his NHL postseason debut during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The following season, Saros set a franchise record with 46 saves in a shutout of the Edmonton Oilers on 14 December 2017 and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, becoming just the second Predators player to earn the honor.
Nashville Predators Era (2018–Present)
Following Pekka Rinne’s placement on injured reserve in October 2018, Saros became Nashville’s full-time starter and finished the 2018–19 season with a 17–10–2 record, a 2.62 GAA, a .915 save percentage, and three shutouts in 31 games. He set a career high with 47 saves in a win over the Vegas Golden Knights on 24 January 2019. When the Predators faced the Arizona Coyotes in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers, Saros was tapped as the starter for Game 1, breaking Rinne’s run of 89 consecutive playoff starts.
After Rinne’s retirement in July 2021, Saros signed a four-year, $20 million extension and emerged as one of the NHL’s most dependable workhorses. In 2021–22, he posted a 38–25–3 record with a 2.64 GAA and a .918 save percentage, finishing as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy before a late-season foot injury ended his postseason. He set a franchise record with 64 saves in a win over the Carolina Hurricanes on 5 January 2023 and led the league with 1,928 saves in 2022–23. In 2023–24, Saros surpassed Tomáš Vokoun for second place on the franchise all-time wins list, going 35–24–5 with a 1.76 GAA across a 14-game stretch and placing fifth in Vezina voting. On 1 July 2024, he signed an eight-year, $61.92 million contract extension running through 2032.
Driving Style and Strengths
Saros is widely regarded as one of the most technically sound and durable goaltenders in the NHL. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and roughly 180 pounds, he compensates for his shorter frame with elite lateral movement, precise depth control, and exceptional tracking through traffic. His conditioning allows him to handle heavy workloads, as evidenced by his league-leading 1,928 saves in 2022–23, and his calm demeanor has made him a stabilizing presence for the Predators during periods of transition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Saros has authored several franchise-defining performances, including a 46-save shutout of the Edmonton Oilers on 14 December 2017 that set a Predators record, a 58-save double-overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2021 playoffs, and a 64-save victory against the same Hurricanes on 5 January 2023. He earned a Vezina Trophy nomination in 2022 and surpassed both Tomáš Vokoun and Pekka Rinne on the Predators’ all-time wins list, cementing his status as the franchise’s No. 1 goaltender.
Juuse Saros Career Wins
Across the Liiga, AHL, and NHL, Juuse Saros has compiled more than 160 career victories, with the majority coming in a Nashville Predators uniform. His progression from a fourth-round draft pick to a franchise cornerstone reflects consistent development, durability, and an ability to elevate his performance in high-pressure situations.
Nashville Predators Highlights
Saros has earned well over 130 regular-season wins with the Nashville Predators, making him one of the most accomplished goaltenders in franchise history. His first NHL win came against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 23 October 2016, and his first career shutout came against the St. Louis Blues on 30 December 2016. He surpassed Tomáš Vokoun for second place on the franchise all-time wins list on 21 December 2023 and has since climbed into the top spot on the Predators’ career charts.
Other Wins & Performances
Before joining the NHL, Saros posted 44 regular-season appearances in his rookie Liiga season with HPK and added a 29-win AHL rookie campaign with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2015–16. He has also captured a World Junior gold medal and two IIHF World Championship silver medals representing Finland, supplementing his professional totals with international success.
Juuse Saros Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Juuse Saros was raised in an athletic household in Forssa, Finland. His father, Pekka, is a basketball official, and his mother, Leila, swam collegiately in the United States. Saros grew up with his older brother, Eemeli, and the siblings frequently played hockey together, with Juuse serving as the goaltender.
Personal Life
In 2021, Saros became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Minna Varis, and the couple married in July 2023. Saros is also a well-known dog lover, often featuring his dogs on his goalie masks and tattoos. He has raised and donated thousands of dollars to pet-related charities and serves as the ambassador of the Preds Pet Club, a regular gathering of Nashville Predators fans and their pets.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Juuse Saros remains the unquestioned starter for the Nashville Predators after signing an eight-year, $61.92 million extension on 1 July 2024. With Kevin Lankinen again serving as his backup, Saros is expected to shoulder one of the league’s heaviest workloads, building on his franchise-record 1,928 saves from 2022–23 and his 35-win campaign of 2023–24. The Predators retooled around veterans such as Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Schenn, and Saros’s performance will be central to their push to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after missing them in 2022–23.
Saros’s 2024–25 outlook is anchored by his track record of late-season surges, including the 12–0–2 stretch he ran from 17 February to 26 March 2024. That run, paired with a 1.76 GAA and .936 save percentage, demonstrated the elite form he can carry into spring. If he maintains his usual conditioning and consistency, he is well-positioned to once again rank among the NHL’s top goaltenders in save percentage and shutouts while pushing the Predators back into postseason contention.