As it turns out, Pekka Rinne won’t be playing for another franchise after all. The legendary Nashville Predators goaltender has decided to hang up his pads, announcing retirement after 15 years. Rinne explained his decision in a long letter to the fans of Nashville, thanking some of the players that have meant the most to him over the years.
Rinne, 38, stands alone at the top of the mountain for the Predators, holding basically every franchise record that a goaltender can. He is the team leader in games (683), starts (667), wins (369), shutouts (60), goals-against average (2.43) and saves (17,627). He also leads all Finnish goaltenders in games, starts, wins and shutouts. Those 369 wins tie him for 19th all-time with Tom Barrasso, though he’ll likely be passed by Carey Price next season. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2018 and was a finalist three other times. He took home the King Clancy trophy this season.
Selected in the eighth round in 2004, Rinne’s is one of the best draft stories in history. Originally eligible in 2001, he was passed over three times before the Predators took a chance on him at 258th overall. Janne Kekalainen, the team’s European scout, saw Rinne playing as a backup for Niklas Backstrom in Finland, and convinced GM David Poile to spend a late pick on the overager.
Rinne was a pending unrestricted free agent this summer, and though he indicated at the end of the season he might be interested in playing, even if it meant suiting up for another franchise, he’ll finish his career playing for only Nashville. The team now turns to Vezina candidate Juuse Saros while also having top prospect Yaroslav Askarov in the pipeline after spending the 11th overall pick on him in 2020.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
End of an era… thanks for the memories Pekka!
This saves cap space now .
no it doesn’t
don’t they have to expose a goalie? if so, do they have one to expose?
They don’t technically have to expose anyone. If they only have 1 goalie eligible for the expansion draft they use their 1 protection on the eligible goalie.
@Nats Thats not correct. They have to meet exposure requirements like every team.
Happy Retirement, ‘Pekks’! First class all the way!
Was hoping Pekka would stick around as the backup next season. Sad that he isn’t, but what a career he had!
@Gbear – Maybe he can arrange to be a goaltending consultant there and still mentor Saros and Askarov. That would keep him in the organization, at least.
I could certainly see that happening. Not sure if he’s going to live in Finland or here though.
Probably both…..Preds news says he is going back to Finland until the start of this season, then he will return to Nashville. A lot depends on what school they want their kids to go to, USA (public or private) vs Finland.