And different.Īnd maybe a little strange on the day the Predators opened a new season without him. To be there this fall, that has been nice. Obviously, he’ll be in town in February, too.įor 16 years, though, he wasn’t able to be in his native country this time of year. He’ll be back in the Music City in November, he said. For now, they’re planning to be back and forth between Finland and Nashville. Rinne's family, he said, hasn’t reached a decision on where they’ll reside full-time. "Now that it’s happening to me, it’s an unbelievable feeling.” I always thought that it’s so cool, such an honor to have your jersey retired. “You’d go into other buildings around the league, and in warmups, I’d always look up," Rinne said. "You see all the legendary players, a lot of guys I remember when I was a kid. Little more than two months later, and at least a month before it was made public on his birthday, Rinne had received a phone call from GM David Poile with the news. Rinne retired in July after 15 seasons with the Predators. An obvious gesture for a player who played 15 seasons, 772 games and logged 414 victories and one Stanley Cup Final for the Predators. He’s the first player in franchise history to be so honored. 24 against the Dallas Stars, two days before the team’s outdoor game at Nissan Stadium against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 35 jersey will be retired at Bridgestone Arena on Feb. The Predators announced on Wednesday morning - as a gift on Rinne’s 39th birthday - that the goalie’s No. No longer is that a concern.Įach day, Rinne is a dad to his infant son - Paulus is nearly a year old - far more than he is an indelible Nashville and NHL legend. Over the years, they had to obey his schedule. Speaking last week by phone from his native Finland, Rinne sounded cheerful as ever, relaxed, “really in a good place” and surrounded by his family. It's their turn, basically. I think it was the right call at the right time.” “To be honest,” Rinne said in an interview with The Tennessean, “I’ve been very, very happy with my decision (to retire). That's what he misses.īut the old goalie isn't missing hockey as much as you might think. It's the camaraderie, being a part of a team and a locker room amid the excitement of a fresh season. Pekka Rinne does miss his Nashville Predators teammates. It felt like a movie.View Gallery: Goaltender Pekka Rinne announces his retirement from the Predators "Otherwise I would have just went back to the locker room," Rinne said. Rinne is forever grateful that Johansen told him in that moment, "No, you're not going to the locker room," and encouraged the man who is uncomfortable in the spotlight to step into it for once. It was just cool to see him enjoy that moment." "I was like, 'Peks, you have to take a lap.' It was a really cool moment for the fans and for him. "I was kind of watching (that 5-0 win) as a fan and you could see the whole building just didn't expect it, but you could tell they would have loved if he started going around. "I'm a fan of 'Peks' too," Johansen said. The center wasn't about to let Rinne disappear off the ice without the proper sendoff. Everyone in the building seemed to have an inkling, too, including Ryan Johansen. He had an inkling that May 10 was going to be his last as a professional hockey player, though he hadn't made a decision. More: Retired Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne no good at goodbyes - and I'm thankful for that More: Nashville Zoo to name goat after former Predators goalie Pekka Rinne More: Ahead of Nashville Predators jersey retirement, Pekka Rinne relishing new normal of just being dad View Gallery: Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne in photos
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