GM Barry Trotz explains why Nashville Predators were buyers at the trade deadline

Barry Trotz's first shot at navigating the NHL's trade deadline as the Nashville Predators general manager concluded on Friday with four trades.

But unlike what many anticipated, he was looking to bolster the roster, not strip it.

Although he stayed away from expensive names like Jake Guentzel and Vladimir Tarasenko, Trotz committed the Predators to buying at the deadline. At Friday's news conference, he explained his reasoning and addressed where things stand with goalie Juuse Saros and pending free agent Alex Carrier.

Predators' latest winning streak forced Trotz to pivot

In February, the Predators were on track to be sellers at the deadline. Then they caught fire, winning nine of 10 games. Trotz said that stretch was a deciding factor in his decision to acquire talent.

"We had to pivot on the plan a little bit," he said. "This team said loud and clear that I should try to help them out."

He added two depth scoring options in Anthony Beauvillier and Jason Zucker, and picked up forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.

OFFENSIVE UPGRADE:Why the Nashville Predators traded for Anthony Beauvillier

"I tried to keep our word to our players," Trotz said. "If you show me what direction you want to go, then I would help that, but I'm not going to mortgage the future."

Juuse Saros stays, but all options are on the table

It's no secret that Saros' name was off the trade block for weeks. Trotz indicated as much when he told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun: "I don’t suspect anything coming. . . . we’re pretty safe in saying he’s going to be here."

But on Friday, Trotz indicated that trading Saros this summer is just as likely as signing him to an extension.

"I can give you a bunch of situations," he said. "If something comes along from now until July 1st, then maybe that situation gets defined and clear."

Trotz suggested he might keep Saros around next season with highly touted prospect Yaroslav Askarov, who is with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals. It would maximize Saros' time in Nashville, while also bridging the gap between him and Askarov.

"I think we're in a great situation with our goaltending going forward," Trotz said. "We have one fantastic NHL goalie who is a superstar. And we have one goalie in the minors who looks like he's a superstar at the minor league level."

Trotz — who said the trade offers he got for Saros were "inadequate" — believes time is on his side.

"When you have time, you want to use it," he said. "I think that gives you a lot of clarity."

Alex Carrier stays as Trotz wanted to keep team together

The other big question on Friday was what Trotz would do with defenseman Alex Carrier.

Talks have been going on for weeks, with Trotz saying he would move Carrier at the trade deadline if they couldn't get a deal done. But the deadline has passed, and Carrier remains on the team without a contract extension.

"We're still talking, but we're not there yet," Trotz said. "We're going to work together to see if we can come up with something that makes both sides happy."

Carrier possesses above average speed and skating on the back end, and he is one of the team's top penalty killing defensemen. This season, he has developed chemistry with defensive partner Jeremy Lauzon, giving the Predators a nice balance of quickness and toughness.

Some have criticized the decision to not move Carrier, especially if the two sides aren't close on a contract. Trotz said it was a tough decision, but ultimately came down to not breaking up a team that had performed so well in the past few weeks.

"That's the price of doing business."