News Article: Preds to Retire Pekka Rinne #35

[valeriammm]

Feb 24th at Bridgestone Arena

https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/preds-to-retire-pekka-rinnes-no-35-on-feb-24-2022-at-bridgestone-arena/c-327528376

Click to read more...

 

[hockey diva]

 

[Hollowmoon]

Well deserved!

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Well, it is later than I would have left it. But yay, all the same.

 

[Marty Party]

Awesome.

I've missed seeing the big guy this season.

 

[Mass]

He’s got that perfect balance of high end performance for a long time, plus so beloved by the fans. Well deserved

 

[BigFatCat999]

f***ing yeah aye

 

[Flgatorguy87]

Banner jokes...the lowest hanging fruit in the hockey joke community. Was a chuckle the very 1st time the actual joke was made. Now it's like my grandpa telling me the same story about going to the grocery store and seeing how much a gallon of milk costs.

 

[Plural]

Well deserved. Peks was an elite goalie for a good period of his career and a stellar #1 for a very long time.

I'm not a Preds fan (though I like the team and will definitely visit Nashville next time I'm in the states) but I wanted to share a tiny tidbit about Rinne.

I live in Oulu, it's the city where Rinne used to play before his NHL career. We have a pretty good franchise called Kärpät. Rinne played with us at the same time as Niklas Bäckström did (Minnesota goalie). We all were 100% certain that Bäckström would be the greater goalie of the two. Bäcks got most starts here and Rinne was sort of a 3rd string goalie for us.

I don't know how, but Rinne just developed his game so well. He went on to be one of the premier goalies of his era. I tip my hat for him. Even back in Kärpät days Rinne was always a gentleman and professional. Fan favorite. He always had time to chat with fans and always was polite, savvyy and smart.

I also once met him here in Oulu after he was established NHL great. Maybe 2-3 years back. Bumped to him in a grocery store. We were picking beers at the same time. He told me he was going to a barbeque party and was picking some beers for that occasion. I wished him good party and we separated our ways. Nice dude, likes barbeque and beer.

Congrats Pekka Rinne! What a career for a 3rd string Finnish league goalie!

 

[Predsanddead24]

Too bad we're on the road 3/5 cause that would be the best day to do it.

 

[BigFatCat999]

banner retirement 24th

outdoor game the 26th

hell yeah

 

[Roman Yoshi]

LFG Peks!

 

[BigFatCat999]

Imagine a Rinne TIFO banner at the outdoor game like before soccer games.

 

[sparkle twin]

I can already feel the tears coming.

 

[LeighDx59]

Immediately bought tickets after the announcement, kinda love that its the same week as the Outdoor Game.

Pekka definitely deserves it, and itll be nice to see him back at Bridgestone.

 

[Soundgarden]

Who better to be our first # retired.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Congratulations Pekka this wasn't a surprise and you're earned this honor.
Next step some well paid retirement job ( goalie coach etc ) for Rinne.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Who better to be our first # retired.

David Legwand.
First NHL draft pick ( 2nd overall 1998 ) in history Nashville Predators NHL franchise.

 

[Legionnaire11]

David Legwand.
First NHL draft pick ( 2nd overall 1998 ) in history Nashville Predators NHL franchise.

I'm the biggest Legwand fan I've ever known but other than compiling totals, he never won any individual awards, never won the division, conference or cup, was rarely the best player or leading scorer in any season and didn't finish his career here. Easy to see why he didn't get that honor.

 

[PredsV82]

I gotta say I was kinda hoping Peks would stay in good shape and consider a Mike Fisher type return if we were in a playoff spot but Ridditch was shitty or hurt. Knew it was a longshot but I'm guessing this means hes really done for good.

 

[PredsV82]

David Legwand.
First NHL draft pick ( 2nd overall 1998 ) in history Nashville Predators NHL franchise.

I would guess nobody but Legwands mother would agree with you

 

[Cashville]

Very well-deserved; he was one of the first premier players to re-sign with our team long-term. On top of being a great player, he was also a genuinely good person and excellent ambassador for the Preds throughout his tenure. Wish him all the best and happy to hoist #35 to the rafters.

 

[BigFatCat999]

David Legwand.
First NHL draft pick ( 2nd overall 1998 ) in history Nashville Predators NHL franchise.

Highly disagree

 

[Armourboy]

David Legwand.
First NHL draft pick ( 2nd overall 1998 ) in history Nashville Predators NHL franchise.

That's laughable.

 

[hockey diva]

Legwand was never a fan favorite. He was never the “face of the franchise” like Shea or Pekka. He was criticized a lot, sometimes without reason. He was a second overall pick who did not translate his offensive numbers from junior to the NHL. He also had Trotz as a coach who pushed him to have 2 way game. When he got traded to Detroit, he could not get out of here fast enough. So, no, Legwand’s number will never be retired by us unless worn by another player who deserves the recognition.