Rinne Honored by Jersey Retirement, Excited to Celebrate with Preds Fans

Seated inside his parents' house in Finland - in a room where his father has collected his various jerseys and other Predators memorabilia from his illustrious career - Pekka Rinne flashed a familiar grin that has become synonymous over the years, especially when he's asked about himself or his accomplishments.
On his 39th birthday, news of Rinne's greatest honor of all spread from Nashville and beyond, then back to his native country where it will surely put the winningest Finnish goaltender in NHL history in the news cycle once more.
Rinne has actually been keeping the secret for a while now. He received a call from Predators General Manager David Poile a number of weeks back while taking his dog to the veterinarian - "She was totally fine," Rinne reassured - but it was actually the former netminder who needed to catch his breath in the moment.

"I was sitting in my car and David [Poile] called me, and he just congratulated me and broke the news," Rinne recalled of learning the Predators were going to retire his number. "I think for half a minute I was pretty much speechless."
Rinne was able to find the words for the most part on Wednesday, but there is certainly still part of the forever-humble Finn that still couldn't believe what is set to take place at Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 24 of next year.
The man who embodied what it meant to play for the Nashville Predators, Rinne's No. 35 will be the first to rise to the rafters in franchise history in what is sure to be a historic ceremony fit for hockey royalty.
He would likely never admit it, but that's what Rinne is, especially in Nashville with the organization he gave everything he had - on and off the ice - for over a decade.
This honor seemed inevitable, and when Rinne announced his retirement from the game last summer, the Preds saw no reason to wait any longer to recognize the best player they've ever had.
And Rinne is still trying to process it all.
"It's pretty unbelievable to wrap my head around what's going to happen in February," Rinne said. "It's such an honor, but I'm really looking forward to Feb. 24, celebrating with my family and friends and teammates and coaches and the fans at Bridgestone. I can't wait."
Neither can anyone else, quite frankly, but Rinne doesn't mind letting the anticipation build, especially for a night he knows will be one of the great moments of his life.
"I couldn't believe it at first, but after that, obviously I was really excited, super happy, and in a moment like this, you start reflecting back and thinking about the players you've played with, the coaches you've had and all the people that have helped me along the way," Rinne said. "Even though they're going to be celebrating me at Bridgestone [Arena] in February, it's a team effort, and that's how I look at it. To me, that's the biggest thing - I get to share that special moment with everybody."

Rinne says he's been keeping up with those teammates and his former club, although his "dad-life schedule" and an eight-hour time difference isn't ideal for watching full games in real time. Instead, he views plenty of highlights, some of which are sent by Preds Goaltending Coach Ben Vanderklok, to keep Rinne up to date with the team he still feels very much a part of even though he's certainly enjoying retired life.
It was during his playing days, Rinne says, when he used to look up at the banners honoring the on-ice heroes in other arenas, but he never imagined that could be a possibility for him. But after concluding the career he put together, it only made sense.
"No, I never really thought about it," Rinne said. "When you skate into some of the older buildings, some of the older, more experienced franchises' buildings, you see all the great players, they're retired jerseys and it's a pretty unbelievable feeling. But after that, thinking about my jersey being retired - I don't know how to put it - but I never really thought about it. It was a total surprise when David called me even though people talked about it when I announced my retirement. I never really thought that it would actually happen. So, very, very proud. Very, very thankful and grateful."
There's also another level to all of this - the fact Rinne will be the first member of the Predators to have his number hang high above the ice. From that perspective, the accolade feels even greater.
"Being the first Pred to have a jersey retired, it's a huge honor," Rinne said. "The franchise has been there since '98, but it also goes to show that I was fortunate to play for the same team for such a long time. It means a lot to me, being the first Pred to have my jersey retired. It's a huge honor, and I don't know how to put it, but when I came to the League there've always been great Predators players, and there always will be. I consider myself very fortunate that I got to play for the Preds for so long, and I think this is the biggest reason [my number is being retired]."
Truly, it's just one of many justifications to ensure no one will ever wear No. 35 in Nashville again.
Rinne has been in Finland since August, but the 2021 King Clancy Winner says he's planning to come back to Nashville within a couple of weeks and check out some games while reuniting with some of his very best friends who are now in the grind of another NHL season.
There are certainly parts of the game Rinne misses, particularly that camaraderie every player seems to long for upon hanging up the skates. But spending time with family and friends in his homeland has filled the time nicely, especially watching his almost-11-month-old son, Paulus, do something new every day.
"When you're a dad, you start really appreciating the family time with the grandparents and stuff like that," Rinne said. "It's all these little things - a very, very simple life right now."
Rinne's infectious smile says he's more than content with his newfound way of living, and perhaps in his free time, Wednesday's news will sink in a bit more, little by little.
And for the beloved former netminder, who always received the loudest ovation of anyone to even sport a Gold sweater, he's already dreaming of that night in Nashville just a few months from now with over 17,000 who always had his back, no matter what.
"I miss you guys very much, and I can't wait to celebrate in February," Rinne said to Preds fans. "I can't wait to see everybody, and especially that February night. It's going to be awesome to see the best fans in the League."
Surely, they feel the same about their favorite goaltender of all time.