Pekka Rinne hoping to retire a Predator - Yardbarker

But if he has it his way, Rinne won’t be going anywhere at the deadline. The goaltender told Adam Vingan of The Athletic that despite a long Cup-less career to this point and Nashville struggling this season, he wants to retire a Predator. The veteran goaltender was listed as an “untouchable” by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet last month, and the Predators do not want to move him, according to Vingan.

Right now, they don’t really have a choice, considering Juuse Saros is out dealing with an injury, and there aren’t any other goaltenders in the system with real experience. But seeing Rinne go anywhere else before he hangs up his skates certainly wouldn’t seem right, considering what he has accomplished for the Predators organization.

With Rinne debuting with the Predators in the 2005-06 season, his rise to NHL starting goaltender is something of legend these days. GM David Poile spent an eighth-round pick on the goaltender after scout Janne Kekalainen convinced him of his upside, despite such few viewings. By the 2008-09 season, he was Nashville's starter and never looked back. He now sits 32nd in all-time games played and 20th in wins.

All of those have come in a Predators uniform, and that doesn’t appear to be changing.

Published On: Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:59:45 GMT