Vezina Trophy – Pekka Rinne (2017-18)

Lore & Background

Pekka Rinne’s path to the Vezina was forged in obscurity and polished through patience. Drafted 258th overall in the eighth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft—a round where most picks never sniff the league—he spent four seasons toiling in the minors, learning to read the game from the crease. The award wasn’t just for one year; it was the culmination of a career built on quiet excellence, a nod to the lanky Finn who turned late-round speculation into a Hall-of-Fame resume. Rinne’s Vezina win hit Nashville like a power chord. In a market that had adopted hockey with a Southern roar, he was the stoic face of the franchise’s golden era—a player whose spectacular saves and unflappable demeanor made him a civic icon. The trophy validated the Predators’ draft-and-develop philosophy and signaled Nashville’s arrival as a perennial contender. For fans, it was a visceral moment of pride: a homegrown star, drafted in the shadows, now holding the sport’s top goaltending prize. The 2017-18 season also saw Rinne lead the Predators to the Western Conference Final, where they fell to the eventual champion Winnipeg Jets. Though the Stanley Cup eluded them, Rinne’s Vezina remains a beacon in franchise history—a reminder of the era when Nashville’s net was guarded by the best in the world.

In Their Own Story

The Bridgestone Arena crowd erupted as the video board flashed the news: Pekka Rinne had won the Vezina Trophy. The Finnish goaltender, famous for his ice-cool composure, cracked a rare smile as teammates swarmed him, their sticks clattering against his pads. This wasn’t just an award—it was a thank-you from a city that had watched him grow from a gangly eighth-round pick into a legend. Later, in the quiet of the locker room, Rinne cradled the trophy, its heft a reminder of every lunging save, every shutout, every 6 a.m. practice in Milwaukee. He thought of the scouts who had written him off, the long bus rides in the ECHL, and the fans who had chanted his name through thick and thin. This was their trophy, too.

Reader's Guide

Pekka Rinne won the Vezina Trophy for the 2017-18 NHL season, becoming the first Nashville Predators player to receive the honor. The award is voted on by NHL general managers and goes to the goaltender judged best at his position. His performance helped the Predators capture the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team and pushed them to the Western Conference Final. The win marked the pinnacle of Rinne’s career and a historic milestone for the franchise.

Did You Know?

• Pekka Rinne was drafted in the eighth round, 258th overall, in 2004—one of the lowest-drafted goaltenders to ever win the Vezina Trophy.
• Rinne's Vezina win made him the first European-trained goaltender to win the award since Dominik Hašek in 2001.
• During the 2017-18 season, Rinne recorded eight shutouts, tying for the league lead.
• Rinne is the only goaltender in Predators history to win the Vezina Trophy, and his number 35 was later retired by the franchise.