Rinne Won the 2018 Vezina Trophy as NHL’s Best Goaltender
by Press Release @PredsNHL / NashvillePredators.com
Nashville, Tenn. (November 3, 2018) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Saturday that the club has signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a two-year, $10 million contract that will see him earn $6 million in 2019-20 and $4 million in 2020-21.
“Pekka Rinne has been the most impactful player our franchise has ever had, both on the ice as one of the NHL’s best goaltenders, and off the ice as a leader in the community,” Poile said. “Both the organization and Pekka want him to play his entire career with the Predators, and this helps accomplish that objective, while also stabilizing our goaltending for at least the next two seasons beyond 2018-19. We feel the tandem of Pekka and Juuse Saros is among the best in the League.”
Rinne, 36 (11/3/82), owns a 4-1-0 record and among NHL goaltenders who have also played in at least six games is second in save percentage (.940) and goals-against average (1.91). He picked up his first shutout of 2018-19 on Oct. 11 vs. Winnipeg and, in his first game back after missing five games due to injury, made a season-high 42 saves in Nashville’s 4-1 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Nashville’s all-time leader in goaltender games played (573), wins (315), save percentage (.919), goals-against average (2.37) and shutouts (52), Rinne won the 2018 Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender in his fourth time as a finalist. The Kempele, Finland, native is 28th in NHL history in wins with 315 and is five shy of passing Miikka Kiprusoff for the most by a Finnish-born goaltender. He has posted 52 career shutouts – including a career-high eight in 2017-18 – the 23rd-most in NHL history and two behind Bernie Parent and Ed Giacomin for 21st. Originally drafted by the Predators in the eighth round (258th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft, Rinne is one of seven goaltenders in League history to record three 40-win seasons (2017-18, 2011-12, 2014-15) and is one of 18 netminders to own 300 victories and 50 shutouts.
Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne shakes hands with General Manager David Poile after signing a two-year contract. Nashville Predators