Rinne's Jersey Retirement is Perfect Way to Honor Face of Preds Franchise

Pekka Rinne knows his son, Paulus, won't remember seeing his father warm up for the final time as a starting goaltender for the Nashville Predators.
Just six months old last spring, the youngest Rinne was bundled up in his Gold Preds jersey and in the arms of Rinne's fiancée, Erika, to see the man with the mask - and a glove big enough to hold the infant - do his thing one more time.
The goaltender has admitted he wasn't quite sure that May evening was his last game at the time, but it sure felt like it in more ways than one.

The Preds couldn't have scripted things much better than a 5-0 shutout for Rinne, and his victory lap that followed was a moment reserved for only the very best who deserve to be honored more than anyone else.
So, it's only fitting that this day would come. Everyone seemed to know it would, except for maybe Rinne, who is still humble enough to check and make sure this is what the Predators want to do.
But there was never an ounce of doubt the winningest Finnish-born netminder of all time, a man who spent his entire NHL career with Nashville and became just as beloved off the ice as he was when his pads were strapped on, would be the first in franchise history to have his number raised to the Bridgestone Arena rafters.
After 683 games, 369 wins, 60 shutouts, 17,627 saves, one goal and more memorable moments than are possible to recount, Rinne is receiving an honor reserved for NHL royalty with their respective organizations.

Gretzky and Lemieux, Howe and Orr, Brodeur and Roy - and a select few others regarded to be among the best the game has ever seen - their numbers will never be worn again in the cities where they became household names and childhood heroes to so many.
And now Rinne's No. 35 will take its rightful place where it belongs - quite a feat for someone who couldn't even identify Nashville on a map when he was drafted almost 20 years ago.
But in time, he fell in love with the city, and its citizens have reciprocated the affection over and over again.
Hundreds have come before him, and many more will skate for the Predators long after that banner is permanently affixed high above the ice. Other numbers may join him in due time, too, but Rinne will always be the first - and that's the way it should be.
His name was chanted in his home rink during countless instances over the past decade-plus, the standing ovations too numerous to count, the appreciation for the goaltender too immense to measure.
But one thing is certain. When Rinne walks - not skates - in front of more than 17,000 inside Bridgestone Arena at the end of February one final time, the cheers will be louder and last longer than they ever have before.
No matter the volume or duration, however, young Paulus won't remember this moment either. But one day, as he grows up and learns of his father's fame, he'll eventually realize he had a front-row seat for the greatest moment of them all.
And when Paulus looks to the rafters one day, he'll see his dad's No. 35 looking down on all those who have the honor to play and cheer for this team.
Without the elder Rinne, the franchise simply wouldn't be what it is today. For that reason - and so many more - Pekka Rinne's number will never be worn again by a member of the Nashville Predators.
Bravo, and thank you, Peks.