 Safronov appeared in two games with the Thrashers in 2001–02, in-between winning the Calder Cup with their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, and 32 more in 2002–03 season before being traded to the Nashville Predators (along with Simon Gamache) for Ben Simon and Tomáš Klouček.He spent the remainder of the season with the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, winning another Calder Cup.Safronov returned to Russia during the 2004–05 NHL lockout and played there until retiring in 2015.