Thats giving up WAAYYY too much, would never happen.

Sure, it's a lot, but Saros is a Vezina caliber goalie, and they'd be taking back Petersen and helping clear cap space. I think it's probably a reasonable haul for him given Nashville's reluctance to move him and the current going rate at trade deadline.

For a top 5 goalie with term? Nah

Its intriguing. I just dont know enough about kupari to evaluate this. Whats his ceiling?

I'd say second line center as a ceiling, but probably more a 3rd line center. He's still young (22), still waiver exempt on his ELC, RFA without arbitration rights at the end of this season, he's really progressed each year since the draft. He's reached the point where he is a clear every day NHLer, but there isn't much room down the middle in LA (Kopi, Danault, one day Byfield (hopefully). I think he's really started to show his talent this season as a more everyday player. I think he would be better with more consistent linemates however, as Kaliyev and Grundstrom have both been hurt for chunks of time, and JAD, Lemiuex and Vilardi have all moved around the lineup as well. He's also been sent down a little this year because JAD isn't waiver exempt while he is.

When was the last time you saw a goaltender get traded for a package like that? Rhetorical question. Never

Goaltenders don't get traded for packages like that because of goalies like Petersen. Prior to Petersens contract extension he played pretty good then once he signed his extension he has been terrible. Bottom line is goalies are so unpredictable and inconsistent they don't get traded for packages like this. Fleury is a good example of the trade standard for goalies, he has been probably the most consistently good goaltender his whole career and he got traded twice once for a 2rd pick and again for a non roster player. So again this type of trade wouldn't happen too many pieces for a goaltender.

Weird comparable with Fluery. He was moved mid 2022 after posing a .908 in Chicago. He was traded for a conditional 2nd (a 1st if MIN made it to the conference finals), which is still a hefty price for a goalie at the ripe age of 37.

Trotz loves defence and goaltending. Poile has also made Saros untouchable. If a team really wanted to entice either one of them to move Saros, it'd take a 1st and a blue chip prospect to get the conversation going.
This is a 27 year old top 5 goalie and perpetual vezina candidate with term, not a 37 year old rental.

But you're right, it wouldn't happen.

The first two times Fleury moved was because his contract, not because he was unpredictable. The last time he was almost 40 years old coming off a bad season for a bad Blackhawks team.

Both these things are true, but the reality is, they can make the move now or in a couple years for less assets. Askarov is their goalie of the future, and he's had a great year in the AHL. He'll need to get starts in the NHL to reach the elite level, and what better time to do that than during a rebuild, especially if it's a short one.

Askarov looked shaky in his one game this season. It's clear he still needs development. It would be more ideal to keep him marinating in the AHL until he's reached a level of confidence to maintain NHL minutes.

That being said, I'm not opposed to Poile or Trotz flipping Saros, but I'm hoping they wouldn't part with Saros unless it's a 1st and a blue chip prospect coming back.

Im not saying he was unpredictable I'm saying the exact opposite, he was consistently good most are not. The guy put together 13 GOOD seasons and a cup or two to go with that before finally being traded for which was something minor like a 2rd round pick. Saros has put together 4 GOOD seasons and working on his fifth. My point is goalies are too big of a risk to invent too much into that why no team has ever done so. Another good example is Bobrovsky.....