![]() 35 jersey with “DADDY” on the back, one of several versions of Rinne jerseys on display throughout the arena. Possibly Pekka’s last season…WE’RE NOT READY.”Ī few rows below her, 5-month-old Paulus Rinne wore a No. In Section 117, a young woman held one that read, “#35 Masks. From the moment Rinne took the ice for warmups, he was the center of attention. With no guarantee that Rinne, 38, will play again this season, or possibly ever, Monday’s game served as an unofficial going-away party. When the Predators open their first-round series against the Hurricanes later this week, Saros, who last season ended Rinne’s decade-long streak of consecutive postseason starts, will be in goal. Juuse Saros, like Rinne before him, carried the Predators into the playoffs, starting 23 of their final 28 games and posting ridiculous numbers. It had been exactly one month since his last appearance, an eternity for a longtime workhorse. “My relationship with the fans, this city, it means the world to me. It felt like a movie.“I don’t know if I can find the right word (to describe) how much I appreciate our fans,” Rinne said. "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 "The last time I saw the fans it was pretty emotional, my last game," Rinne said. On Thursday, which was officially declared Pekka Rinne Day by Mayor John Cooper, the man belonged to Nashville once more.įor the first time since his fairytale shutout in his last appearance as a Predator, his 683rd and final regular-season game, Rinne was showered with roars of appreciation. Many of those Rinne full-timers have been in Nashville this week with Rinne, to share in the special moments, in the thank you, in the goodbye. He's a full-time husband now, with his wife Erika. The former full-time goalie is a full-time father now, with his 14-month-old son Paulus. Listen: Nashville Predators Catfish Corner podcast: Pekka Rinne is coming back to Nashville Rinne's 35 also was in the ice behind each net, fittingly. On Thursday night, 17,159 T-shirts with Rinne's famous name and famous number, one neatly placed on every seat inside Bridgestone Arena, greeted fans. "I always carry a 35 necklace, things like that. ![]() "After a while you play with the same number it becomes like your thing," Rinne said. No Predators player will wear that number again. Little did Rogers or Rinne know that number would become synonymous with Nashville Predators hockey and Rinne, and that it would be the first number to hang from the rafters inside Bridgestone Arena. "From that moment on, that was my number. "He gave me the 35 and asked, 'Are you happy with it?'" Rinne said. 33 during his playing days in Finland but was too shy to make any demands in the NHL. Predators equipment manager Pete Rogers picked the number during Rinne's first training camp with the team after he was taken in the eighth round of the 2004 draft. Rinne spent his entire 15-year NHL career with the Predators after being picked by the team in eighth round of the 2004 draft. Fans arrive for former Nashville Predator Pekka Rinne’s jersey retirement ceremony at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. ![]()
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