Nashville Predators
Scott Wedgewood Not Taking Opportunity With Predators For Granted
Scott Wedgewood’s path through the NHL has been full of twists and turns.
The 31-year-old goaltender’s career transaction log includes four free-agent deals, three trades and one waiver claim. When New Jersey dealt him to Arizona on Oct. 28, 2017, Wedgewood moved from the home locker room to the visitors one before the two teams played that night at Prudential Center.
It’s why Wedgewood appreciates the two-year, $3 million contract he signed with the Nashville Predators on July 1. He spent the last two-plus seasons as the backup in Dallas, where he earned his first one-way deal in 2022.
“To kind of keep my head above water for a long time like I did to earn that (first) contract and now a $1.5 million deal – it’s something that was a long time coming for me and my family,” he said during a press conference Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena. “It’s very rewarding for what the journey’s been.”
Wedgewood joins the Predators after posting a 16-7-5 record, 2.85 goals-against average and .899 save percentage across 32 appearances with the Stars in 2023-24. He proved to be a reliable replacement for NHL All-Star Jake Oettinger, who missed one month due to a groin injury near the midseason mark.
While Wedgewood is likely to hold the same No. 2 spot behind incumbent starter Juuse Saros in Nashville, general manager Barry Trotz stopped short of confirming the team’s goalie pecking order earlier this month. The Predators also boast top American Hockey League prospect Yaroslav Askarov between the pipes.
Trotz left the door open for Askarov to beat out Wedgewood for the backup role in training camp, return to the Milwaukee Admirals for a third season or be traded to a team with a less certain goalie plan.
“There’s lots of options,” Trotz said. “We’re going to do what’s right for our organization. I’m asking all our goaltenders to be ready for camp and get at it. The only thing that I do know is Juuse Saros is our No. 1 goalie.”
Wedgewood is no stranger to being asked to prove himself.
He inked two-way deals with Buffalo in 2018 and Tampa Bay in 2019 but never played an NHL game for either team. Wedgewood’s 191 AHL games still outnumber his 130 NHL appearances.
“Nothing’s been set in stone; nothing’s guaranteed by any means,” he said of his expectations in Nashville. “You’ve got to earn everything in this league. I’m the first person to know that.”
During the 2021-22 season, Wedgewood broke through for a career-high 34 appearances and .912 save percentage. Dallas acquired him from Arizona at the trade deadline and later extended his contract by two years and $2 million.
“I was at the bottom of the league every time I seemed to get a job to stay afloat,” he said. “To earn a spot and get traded for by (Dallas) was huge for me. And then to put together the two years that I did put me in a spot to earn a little bit of a raise.”
Coincidentally, Nashville’s home opener is set for Thursday, Oct. 10 against Wedgewood’s old Dallas teammates. He admitted he won’t miss catching heat from Nashville fans after surrendering a goal to the Predators in their building.
“It’s never fun to be told you suck,” he said. “… I usually returned it with something like, ‘Wedgewood, you rock,’ in my own mind just to laugh it off … I’m excited to be on the other side of it for sure.”
Follow Russell Vannozzi on X/Twitter @RussellV_MSP.
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