A monument to the greatest Nashville Predator of all time will forever live outside the team’s arena.
On Saturday, the organization revealed a statue honoring former Predators goalie Pekka Rinne right in front of Bridgestone Arena.
The goalie led the franchise to its lone Western Conference title and Stanley Cup appearance in 2017.
After retiring in 2021, Rinne’s No. 35 was retired by the team in 2022 and was hoisted to Bridgestone Arena’s rafters along with the franchise’s other banners.
A big crowd of Predators fans gathered outside of the arena ahead of Nashville’s afternoon tilt against the Seattle Kraken as the statue was unveiled.
What a beauty 🤩 pic.twitter.com/8LLvfKqkNJ
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 25, 2023
🗣️ PEKKA PEKKA PEKKA pic.twitter.com/3pPES0Nvnz
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 25, 2023
Retiring Predators general manager David Poile spoke ahead of the unveiling, thanking the goalie for all he had done for the franchise.
"Pekka, we will never forget what you have done for the Predators and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
David Poile's speech honoring Pekka Rinne 💛@PredsNHL | #Smashville pic.twitter.com/7qvUNudqB8
— Bally Sports: Preds (@PredsOnBally) March 25, 2023
As for Rinne, he maintained his patented sense of humor while taking in the special Saturday festivities.
Pekka Rinne on the statue’s location looking out over Broadway: “all you guys headed down Broadway at night, I’ve got my eye on you”
Adds that they should probably add a camera lol pic.twitter.com/0DJ9sVSGf4
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) March 25, 2023
Pekka Rinne says maybe the statue will help him get into Preds games in the future. pic.twitter.com/1jICI9pVp3
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) March 25, 2023
It’s not often NHL goalies get a statue unveiled for them outside of where they used to play, but that’s just how much Rinne meant and continues to mean to the Predators franchise. It’s a fitting tribute to a team legend.
