Pekka Rinne might have skated off the ice at Bridgestone Arena for the last time. That’s a hard sentence to type.
However, in that last regular-season outing for Rinne, the big Finn posted a massive shutout against the Carolina Hurricanes. Neither GM David Poile nor the 2021 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner Rinne have confirmed his retirement. It’s possible, though, that #35 no longer wants to play hockey.
Juuse Saros has solidified himself as the Nashville Predators’ starting netminder. Rinne was quite content to play second fiddle to young Saros, providing mentorship, competition, and encouragement.