Predators send Saros to AHL, recall Mazanec

The Nashville Predators filed a rather surprising transaction Saturday morning.

The club assigned goaltender Juuse Saros to its AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, while recalling netminder Marek Mazanec.

Saros went 5-3-2 with a 1.79 GAA and a .941 save percentage in 10 starts for the Predators, spelling veteran No. 1 netminder Pekka Rinne.

The 21-year-old - widely regarded as the Predators' top goaltending prospect - has also excelled in the AHL, going 11-2-0 with a 1.76 GAA and .938 save percentage in 13 games with the Admirals this season.

Mazanec, on the other hand, has struggled to a 4.73 GAA and .839 save percentage across four games with Nashville in 2016-17. He's 12-10-0 with a 2.61 GAA and .910 save percentage in 23 AHL contests.