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For months, it was unclear how the Nashville Predators would approach their future at goaltender.
Those questions have seemingly been answered.
Former Dallas Stars goalie Scott Wedgewood has signed a two-year deal with the Predators worth $1.5 million per season, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli. Wedgewood is expected to serve as the backup to Juuse Saros, who has reportedly agreed to an eight-year contract extension to be Nashville’s long-term starter.
Wedgwood went 16-7-5 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 32 appearances during the 2023-24 season. From mid-December to late January, he helped Dallas continue to win games without starter and NHL All-Star Jake Oettinger, who missed time due to a groin injury.
The New Jersey Devils drafted Wedgewood in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft. The 31-year-old has since been packaged in three separate trades, signed as a free agent four times and claimed off waivers once.
Wedgewood holds a 48-48-22 career record with a 2.98 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 130 games across his time in Arizona, Dallas and New Jersey. Those numbers stack up well against Nashville’s previous backup Kevin Lankinen, who hit unrestricted free agency Monday.
Lankinen compiled a 45-43-12 career record, 3.07 GAA and .905 save percentage in 112 career games, including 43 appearances with the Predators over the last two seasons.
Wedgewood’s arrival likely means Yaroslav Askarov is destined to spend another season in the American Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals, barring an injury or Nashville finding a willing trade partner for its prized goalie prospect.
For now, the Predators will maintain the depth they enjoyed last season with Saros, Lankinen and Askarov. General manager Barry Trotz could opt to use the team’s netminder surplus as ammunition to help Nashville acquire more talent at other positions as the organization loads up for a potential Stanley Cup run.
Keep up with Nashville Hockey Now on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
More must-reads:
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Fans are furious over this proposed Jason Robertson trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Some NHL trade rumours make you think, and others feel like pure fantasy. A recent proposal linking the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs falls firmly into the second category, sparking debate over the future of Jason Robertson. The Dallas Stars are fresh off another deep playoff run and remain loaded with talent heading into 2025-26. Their top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Mikko Rantanen is arguably the best in hockey, a group carefully built through patience, planning, and smart cap management. So when a recent article from Heavy.com floated the idea of Dallas trading Robertson to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a one-for-one swap for veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly, eyebrows shot up across the hockey world. No prospects. No picks. Just Robertson for Rielly. The Dallas Stars trading Jason Robertson for Morgan Rielly would be a massive mistake Robertson isn't just another forward. He's a franchise cornerstone, a 40-goal scorer, and a player with multiple 80-point seasons already on his résumé. His full stats are available at NHL.com. He's also only 26 and entering his prime years. Rielly, meanwhile, is 31, carries a no-move clause, and while steady, does not address a pressing need in Dallas. With Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Lian Bichsel leading the way, the Stars already have a strong defensive core with youth and upside. Even Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos recently cautioned about the complexity of Robertson's next deal, but nothing about that analysis justifies moving him for an aging defenseman. "The Stars need to be careful with how they handle Robertson," Kypreos noted. Careful, however, does not mean giving him away. I think Dallas would be foolish to even entertain this type of move. Robertson isn't just a player, he's part of the identity of the Stars and a key piece of their Stanley Cup hopes. This isn't NHL 26, this is real life, and stars like Robertson simply don't come around often.
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber makes all kinds of MLB history vs. Braves
Kyle Schwarber made sure his Philadelphia Phillies bounced back after being swept by the New York Mets earlier this week. Schwarber went 4-for-6 with four home runs and nine RBI in Philadelphia's 19-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. His first home run of the night came in the first inning, a solo shot for his 46th of the season. In the fourth inning, the three-time All-Star blasted his second home run of the night (47), this time a two-run knock. Schwarber’s third long ball came in the following frame, with his 48th being a three-run homer. Finally, in the seventh inning, Schwarber hit his fourth home run (49) of the night to right field to come within one dinger of 50 for the season. The 32-year-old made all kinds of history on Thursday against the Phillies’ division rival. He already surpassed his previous career high for home runs in a single season, but also became just the fourth player in franchise history to have four homers in a game and the first since Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt did so in 1976. Additionally, Schwarber is only the 21st player in MLB history to achieve this feat, and the fifth player all-time with at least four homers and nine RBI in a game. Plus, Schwarber joined the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz and Seattle Mariners’ Eugenio Suarez as the only players to have a four-homer game this season — the first time this has occurred. Clearly, Schwarber and the Phillies were anxious to get out of Queens and return to Philadelphia. The Phillies’ offense scored just eight runs across the three-game set against the Mets. They scored 19 runs off the Braves’ pitching at Citizens Bank Park. Schwarber received “MVP” chants from Phillies fans on Thursday, and rightfully so. He’s on his way to breaking Ryan Howard’s previous franchise record of 58 home runs in a season, which earned him the 2006 National League MVP.
Ranking U.S. Ryder Cup pairings by how much you would hate to play with them
If you're an avid golfer, you know the anxiety-inducing feeling of showing up to your local muni as a twosome on a busy Sunday afternoon. The twosome you get paired with can make or break your entire weekend. Since captain Keegan Bradley finalized the U.S. Ryder Cup roster on Wednesday, let's have some fun by ranking the three worst duos you would hate to be paired with on the golf course. 3. Cameron Young and Harris English Getting paired with Young and English would be a bore fest from the first tee to the 18th green. The introductory handshakes and the occasional "nice shot" would be the only interactions you get from them all day. You'll spend the entire round debating whether they're 25 or 45. At some point, you'll ask your buddy if they're even friends. Sure, it would be a treat to watch Young bomb majestic high draws 350 yards and English drain multiple 30-footers with ease, but that's where the fun would stop. The over/under for the number of smiles cracked between the two of them might be set at 2.5. 2. Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns Morikawa just doesn't seem like a good hang this year. From multiple quarrels with the media to a handful of caddie switches in the span of a few months, Morikawa has been too high-strung and paranoid in 2025. He'd be quick to blame you for a poor drive because you blinked too aggressively in his backswing. No thank you. Burns is on the other end of the spectrum in that he'll keep to himself and pretend not to know Morikawa very well. He'll throw out a "Sorry about him, he's having a tough year" to ease the tension, but his personality isn't bubbly enough to offset Morikawa's bad vibes. 1. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele Cantlay would be the absolute worst-case scenario as a random pairing. You'd think his minute-long pitter-patter over the ball on the first tee was a one-time exercise to ease his nerves, but you quickly realize it's a steady feature of his pre-shot routine. Even though he's hitting the fewest shots, he's taking the longest time to hit them. The groups behind you start to pile up. At one point, the impatient union worker behind you hits into your group to send a message. Cantlay doesn't care. Five hours later, you finally finish up on 18. The group that was in front of you all day is already on their second beverage at the clubhouse bar. In an age when pace of play is just as important as your final score, Cantlay would be a nightmare pairing.
Taylor Townsend reveals how Jelena Ostapenko insulted her during post-match argument
Taylor Townsend claimed Jelena Ostapenko made insulting comments about her background and education after their heated U.S. Open match on Wednesday. Townsend beat Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 during their second round match Wednesday, but the two players got into an argument during the traditional post-match congratulatory handshakes. Townsend and Ostapenko continued the argument at Ostapenko’s player bench before Townsend ultimately broke off to celebrate. Townsend was asked during her post-match interview what was said between her and Ostapenko. The American claimed Ostapenko had personally insulted her. “It’s competition. People get upset when they lose. Some people say bad things,” Townsend said. “She told me I have no class, I have no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the US. I’m looking forward to it. I beat her in Canada outside the U.S. … let’s see what else she has to say.” Townsend was certainly insulted by what Ostapenko told her. She even had the American crowd jeer Ostapenko as the Latvian left the court. Ostapenko has clashed with other players before, but most would agree that if Townsend correctly represented what she said, that undoubtedly crossed a line.
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