Retirement of #35 Pekka Rinne
The wall that built a hockey town.
The retirement of Pekka Rinne's #35 jersey remains the most emotional and defining ceremony in Nashville Predators history. It honors the Finnish goaltender who was the heart and soul of the franchise for 15 seasons, from his debut in 2005 to his retirement in 2021. Rinne's number was raised to the rafters of Bridgestone Arena on February 24, 2022, cementing his legacy as the greatest player in Predators history. The ceremony celebrated not just his individual accolades, but his role in transforming the team from a small-market underdog into a perennial contender.
- Role
- Goaltender
- Affiliation
- Nashville Predators
- First appears
- 2005-06 NHL season
- Status
- Retired, number retired by franchise
- Major honors
- Vezina Trophy winner, NHL All-Star, franchise leader in wins and shutouts
Lore & Background
Pekka Rinne's journey to becoming a Predators legend was anything but straightforward. Drafted in the eighth round of the 2004 NHL Draft—258th overall, a round where most picks never sniff the NHL—he was a late bloomer who spent years honing his craft in the minors and in Finland. When he finally arrived in Nashville, his towering 6'5" frame and acrobatic style quickly made him a fan favorite. Rinne's calm demeanor and fierce competitiveness defined an era where the Predators went from playoff afterthoughts to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2017. His number retirement was a night of tears and cheers, with former teammates, coaches, and fans celebrating a player who gave everything to the franchise.
In Their Own Story
The lights dimmed at Bridgestone Arena as a video montage played, showing Rinne's greatest saves—a sprawling glove grab, a desperation kick, a calm poke check that snuffed out a breakaway. The crowd, a sea of gold jerseys, rose to its feet. Rinne stepped onto the ice in a sharp suit, his eyes glistening. He waved, and the roar was deafening. As his #35 banner rose slowly to the rafters, he looked up, remembering the empty arena of his early years and the packed house now. He whispered to himself, 'This is home.' The banner settled next to the retired numbers of David Legwand and the franchise's pioneers, a permanent tribute to the man who made Nashville believe.
Reader's Guide
The Rinne era (2005–2021) was the golden age of Predators hockey. Before him, the team was a novelty in a non-traditional market, struggling for respect. Rinne's arrival, alongside captain Shea Weber and later Roman Josi, gave the Predators an identity: defensive grit and elite goaltending. His Vezina Trophy win in 2018 was the first major individual award in franchise history. His retirement marked the end of an era, but his number in the rafters ensures his legacy endures as the foundation of Nashville's hockey identity.
Did You Know?
- Pekka Rinne was drafted 258th overall in the 2004 NHL Draft, the eighth round, making him one of the lowest-drafted goaltenders to become a franchise icon.
- Rinne's #35 retirement was the second in Predators history, following David Legwand's #11 in 2018.
- He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy four times, winning it in 2018 at age 35.
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