Rinne retires from NHL, played 13 seasons for Predators

Pekka Rinne retired from the NHL on Tuesday, ending a 13-season playing career, all with the Nashville Predators.

"For more than 15 years, I've been on an incredible, life-changing journey with the Nashville Predators that has taken me to more places than I could have ever imagined and given me more than I could ever hope to give back," the goalie said. "This decision wasn't easy, but I know this is the right one at the right time."
The 38-year-old is Nashville's regular-season leader in games (683), starts (667), wins (369), shutouts (60), goals-against average (2.43) and saves (17,627). He is first among Finland-born goalies in NHL regular-season games, starts, wins and shutouts, had a .917 save percentage, is tied with Tom Barrasso for 19th in NHL wins, and is 19th in shutouts. He won the Vezina Trophy voted as the best goalie in the NHL in 2017-18.
Rinne's GAA is fourth among NHL goalies who won at least 350 games, behind Dominik Hasek (2.20), Martin Brodeur (2.24) and Jacques Plante (2.38). He is one of 12 goalies with 350 wins and 60 shutouts; eight are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
"Playing street hockey with my cousins and my friends, from that little guy to here, it's been an unbelievable journey," Rinne said. "I feel like you need so much luck on your side along the way and I feel like I've had that. I've had great people around me, great family, so I'm very thankful for that.
"What Nashville, the organization, the city means to me, this organization gave me a chance and I was able to grow into a man in this city, start a family, a lot of bigger things than hockey. I'm forever thankful for that and grateful. ... I want to thank the people of Nashville. Every single day I feel appreciated, I feel loved. It is a special, special place and a special relationship with the organization and the people of Nashville."

Rinne started 89 games and won 45 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, each the most in Predators history, and had a 2.49 GAA and .914 save percentage. He helped Nashville advance to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, when it lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
"To me it's still the 2017 Stanley Cup run. That was something I'll never forget," he said. "The whole run, the whole journey, it was so special. It also showed how difficult it is to win and really makes you appreciate it and respect the trophy. That year was special. We had to claw our way into the playoffs and then obviously everybody knows the story after that, but it was a special year."
The Predators made the playoffs in 10 of Rinne's 13 seasons, and he played every game in each of the first eight appearances. He did not play a postseason game the past two seasons, when Juuse Saros took over as Nashville's No. 1 goalie.
Rinne was 10-12-1 with a 2.84 GAA, a .907 save percentage and two shutouts this season, the last on a two-year, $10 million contract he signed Nov. 3, 2018. He shut out the Carolina Hurricanes 5-0 on May 10, the final game of his NHL career that ended with a standing ovation at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and a solo lap around the ice with his family in attendance.
"I don't know how much that factored in (to my decision to retire), but you can't reproduce that," Rinne said. "For sure everything went like in the movies. Now looking back it was such a special ending to my career. You could feel that right away after the game. It was such a special game. I tried to keep that game separate from my decision if that makes any sense because it was also emotional. But now knowing that was my last game, what a way to end, and I'm very thankful for my teammates too being there, beating a good team, and for myself, selfishly, having a shutout. It does feel good."
Rinne was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his leadership qualities on and off the ice and humanitarian efforts in his community this season. He would have become an unrestricted free agent July 28.
"Nashville has become my home, and I have tried to make this community a better place than when I first arrived," Rinne said. "Over time, I've learned what this organization is all about, and that's family. I'll cherish the memories and friendships I've made for the rest of my life."

The Predators selected Rinne in the eighth round (No. 258) of the 2004 NHL Draft. He came to North America in 2005 and played primarily for Milwaukee in the American Hockey League. He played his first NHL game and got his first NHL win Dec. 15, 2005, making 35 saves in a 5-3 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Rinne also played against the Blackhawks on April 5, 2006, allowing one goal on two shots in 3:08. He played for Milwaukee in 2006-07 and one game with Nashville in 2007-08 before becoming a full-time NHL goalie in 2008-09, when he was 29-15-4 with a 2.38 GAA, a .917 save percentage and seven shutouts in 52 games (49 starts) to finish fourth in voting for the Calder Trophy awarded to the NHL rookie of the year. He had NHL career bests in GAA (2.12) and save percentage (.930) in 2010-11, when he was 33-22-9 with six shutouts. Rinne set NHL career-highs in 2011-12 with 73 games, 72 starts and 43 wins, with a 2.39 GAA, a .923 save percentage and five shutouts.
"For years, Pekka has been the face of our franchise on and off the ice," Predators general manager David Poile said. "The role he played in making the Predators organization into something so much more than just a hockey team cannot be understated, and what he means to our team and community makes him one of the most special players and people you'll ever meet.
"It's cliche of what you would want from your best players, but Pekka gave us a chance to win in every single game he played and led our team during the most competitive era of our franchise. While we will miss his talent and leadership in our locker room, we want to congratulate him and his family on an exceptional career, and we're all looking forward to seeing him continue to make a positive impact on our community in the years to come."
Rinne was 42-13-4 with a 2.31 GAA, a .927 save percentage and an NHL career-high eight shutouts in 59 games in 2017-18, when he won the Vezina. He was runner-up in 2010-11 and 2014-15, and third in 2011-12. He played at least 50 games nine times from 2008-19, and at least 60 five times from 2010-17.
Rinne became the 12th NHL goalie to score a goal when he did so against the Blackhawks on Jan. 9, 2020.
"With 'Peks,' he was the perfect fit for this market," said New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz, who coached Rinne with the Predators for six seasons. "You needed a likeable star. You needed someone who could take a team on his back and someone who could get very involved in the community. Win or lose, he always was able to treat the people, the media, anybody he came in contact with, with the utmost respect knowing that he had impact on growing a franchise.
"He was a great goaltender, very competitive under the surface. When the shootout came, we didn't have a lot of snipers, but most everybody wanted to go first to put the pressure on the opposition, and he came to me and said, 'Listen, let them shoot first because I want them. You guys score a goal, I'll stop them.' That's the type of teammate he was."