The stage was set, literally, for the return of the greatest player in Predators history. The fans arrived over and hour early to watch the ceremony. Former teammates came to show support. The fans erupted when Shea Weber was announced. Pete Weber gave a speech, David Poile have a speech. Pekka’s whole family was there. Thursday night was about Pekka, and all he's done for the city and organization. To cap off all of the fanfare, Pekka's number, 35, headed to the rafters to be immortalized. Oh, and there will be a state of him outside Bridgestone next year.
This reception of Pekka was well deserved, no doubt. Pekka Rinne was not just our man between the pipes for over a decade, but he helped bring the Predators into Nashville’s heart. He played a large part in the success of a team who constantly had to deal with the criticism that “hockey can’t work in the south.” That criticism, despite some good success in the team’s early years, might have been fair. The team nearly moved, for starters, and the attendance had been nothing special. But after the city rallied to save the team, with the purchase by a new ownership group taking place in 2007, the Predators were ready to take on the world. In the 2008-2009 season, Pekka Rinne became the starting goaltender for the Preds. The Predators, at this point started, like a Phoenix to rise from the ashes to be reborn.
If Predators fans had to choose a moment when the whole city rallied behind the team most, many would be split between the 2017 Stanley Cup run, and the 2011 Playoff run. It was in 2011 that the team truly gained the support and adoration of the city, and the fans of the team got commended for the atmosphere inside Bridgestone Arena. In this 2011 run, Pekka Rinne played as well as he ever had up to that point, posting a .929 save percentage, and a 2.07 goals against average. He was, in many ways, the centerpiece of the team’s first ever Playoff round win and berth into the second round. While the team mostly collapsed in the second round series against Vancouver, the city rallied around the team, and became known for the raucous atmosphere. This atmosphere, as a result of the city’s support, might not have happened without Pekka Rinne’s performance. From thereon, the Predators, with a rebrand, and a playoff streak starting in 2015-16, became Nashville’s team (especially considering the lackluster play of the Titans).
Then along came the 2016-17 season. In many ways, the team’s play, including Pekka Rinne’s, were not anything special. The team squeaked into the playoffs - the lowest ranked team in the entire tournament. From there, in case you’ve forgotten, Pekka posted two shutouts against Chicago, sending the series back to Nashville, where in the next two games, the Preds won twice to complete their first ever postseason series sweep. In the next round, Pekka allowed 11 St. Louis pucks into the net, but still was able to make saves in key moments to allow the Predators to move on to their first Conference final. Meeting the Anaheim Ducks, Pekka again came up clutch multiple times, leading the Predators to, again, make franchise history against the Ducks. I don’t wanna talk about the series against Pittsburgh except about the fact that the city, once again, and perhaps more forcefully and passionately, got behind the team. This support, once again, was thanks in large part, due to Peks.
The next season, Pekka played out of his mind as the Predators went on to win the Presidents Trophy, with Pekka getting recognized, winning the Vezina trophy. The playoffs ultimately ended in disappointment against the Jets in Game 7, with Pekka giving up two truly unfortunate goals towards the beginning of the game. The next two seasons were nothing exceptionally special,, but Pekka still remained in Nashville’s heart, even as it became clear that his days in the NHL were numbered.
Pekka’s decision to retire this past offseason was not a surprise, but it was most certainly sad to see such a pillar of the team hang it up. One thing that I, as I’m sure others were glad about was the fact that Pekka only played for one NHL team. He ended his career in the city that had embraced him, and loved every one of his playing moments.
Now, with the number 35 hanging from the rafters, Pekka’s legacy has officially been cemented. Without him, “Smashville” may never have, for example, hosted an outdoor game. Our city, and fans, may not have gotten the recognition we now get. We might have never hosted the NFL Draft, or be a finalist to host the World Cup. So for as much as this city gave to Pekka, Peks gave an immeasurable amount back.
From all of Nashville, thank you Pekka.