The Nashville Predators will retire Pekka Rinne’s number on Feb. 24, 2022
Pekka Rinne will become the first player to have their jersey retired by the Nashville Predators.
The team announced on Wednesday that Rinne’s No. 35 will be lifted to the rafters of Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 24, 2022 when the Predators host the Dallas Stars.
February 24, 2022.
Pekka Rinne will become the first player in the history of the organization to have his jersey retired.https://t.co/lxG0JXpX6j
“As the face of the Predators for more than 15 years, it is only right that the first number to be retired in franchise history is Pekka Rinne’s,” Predators general manager David Poile said. “He is one of, if not the primary reasons our franchise has grown into what it is today. It’s going to be an incredibly special night not only for Pekka, his family, and friends, but for our entire organization.”
Rinne was drafted by the Predators in the eighth round of the 2004 draft. He made his NHL debut for the team not long after that, stopping 35 of 38 shots in a win over the Chicago Blackhawks in December of 2005.
He would go on to play 683 games in the NHL, all with the Predators, over the course of 15 seasons. Rinne is Nashville’s all-time leader in wins (369), shutouts (60), and goals-against average (2.43). He’s also the only Predators goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy for the NHL’s top goaltender.