Rexrode: The Pekka Rinne era is over for the Predators, but not for Nashville

The first in-person Nashville Predators news conference in 16 months was the last Pekka Rinne news conference as a Nashville Predator, and there’s something fitting about that.

This dude is too good for a video conference, this moment too important. The thousands of fans who love Rinne, the greatest Predator of all, could not be in the room with him Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena as he made official his retirement. But the fact that other humans were in the room asking him questions, rather than fumbling to unmute while hoping their Wi-Fi held up, made for a better experience.

“I hope people see me as a hardworking guy, a team guy — that’s probably my wish,” said Rinne when asked the inevitable “legacy” question. “Off the ice, you know, just an everyday man. A man of the people.”

As with every previous documented encounter with Rinne over his 15 years in Nashville, he showed that stopping pucks is just the beginning of his relationship with the city. This time, he also signaled an ending, of more than just his legendary, jersey-retirement-worthy, Hall of Fame-ish, bigger-than-hockey career. The 38-year-old Rinne’s tenure was so long, it encompassed different eras, and this caps the last and best, the rise to championship hockey, to within two victories of the Stanley Cup, and the fall to today’s current state: a team that just lost its heart and needs a serious reset.

It would still need one had Rinne decided to extend his career in the fall, which he said got “a lot” of consideration. He would have returned to back up Juuse Saros, whose rise under Rinne’s mentorship is a testament — along with more than $3 million raised to fight pediatric cancer and the shared experiences of teammates and fans — to Rinne the human being. And there’s no question his baby son, Paulus, and fiancee, Erika, represent life changes and major influences on this decision.

But this decision was always setting up to be commentary from someone in the know on the 2021-22 Preds. The 20-7-1 second half of the 2021 regular season to get into the playoffs, and a competitive series loss to Carolina, lends hope for next season. Rinne coming back to support Saros and make another run at that elusive Cup would suggest he found that to be somewhere in the realm of possibility.

There’s nothing left for the Vezina and King Clancy winner to achieve on an individual level, nothing but that left to chase. Among his reflections Tuesday was the run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against Pittsburgh, which he said “showed how difficult it is to win and really makes you appreciate and respect the trophy.”

Rinne walking away doesn’t necessarily mean he considered a run at it impossible next season, and he’d certainly never say that out loud. But his retirement, along with general manager David Poile’s recent trade of Viktor Arvidsson to the Los Angeles Kings for two draft picks, signifies a shake-up. The start of a shake-up, if Poile can figure out a way to keep maneuvering in the weeks to come. A needed shake-up. Preds fans, the ones who haven’t been screaming for major changes for weeks, months or years, should embrace this.

It’s just that Tuesday had a feeling of: “Well, that’s it, then.”

How many Preds fans have wanted this core group to figure out a way since the seven-game loss to Winnipeg in 2018 — the last time they actually looked like a top contender — just so Rinne could get his name on the Cup? For the city, yes, for the organization and for the parade of all parades, but so much for him. That’s the connection he’s made with people here. It’s uncommon. He’s the most beloved guy inside the building, too. I asked Poile if “winning one for Rinne” in the twilight of his career has been part of the thought process in recent seasons.

“Yeah. Honestly, I’ve talked to him (about how) it would be great to do that, but you know, that’s more of a personal thing,” Poile said. “That’s not how you operate. I mean, every year you’re trying to win. Now we’ve got to win the Cup for Pekka, for what he’s done for us.”

That’s likely going to take a while. But Rinne probably won’t be far if it happens. His jersey hanging in the rafters (that’s a matter of “when,” not “if”) won’t be the only reminder of him. Rinne and his family plan to be back from Finland around the start of the season, and it sounds like he intends to continue toggling between those very different homes. This is great for Nashville. So was most of what Tuesday represented.

It’s rare for pro athletes to have careers of such duration with one franchise. It’s rare for pro athletes and franchises to part on terms like Rinne and the Preds just did. That should be celebrated, along with everything Rinne represents. He can stand right with Steve McNair and Eddie George in terms of his impact on this city, and that’s saying something for a hockey guy in a football region.

“As I should be, I’m a little prejudiced here, but to me, in my years here, he has been the most influential athlete in (the state of) Tennessee,” Poile said. “I mean, it’s unbelievable, the things he has done on the ice, the importance he has (had in) creating an environment where the level of hockey has been so high. And then, of course, you combine that with what I would call a complete person who does all the things off the ice. I mean, who has done more for the community than Pekka Rinne has, as we stand here? Who has done more for an individual sport than Pekka Rinne? He’s the most important athlete in Nashville that we’ve had in the time he has been here.”

Rinne the athlete is done. Here’s hoping Rinne the person impacts Nashville, in person, for many more years.

(Photo: Danny Murphy / Getty Images)