Retired Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne signs one-game contract with Finnish team

Yahoo

10-02-2025

Pekka Rinne, the most successful goaltender in Nashville Predators history, may be back in net for the first time in four years this week.
Rinne, who retired from the NHL in 2021 after a 15-year career, has signed a one-game contract with Kiekko-Ketut, a lower level Finnish hockey team. The team is based in Kempele, Finland, which is Rinne's hometown.
It's unclear when Rinne will suit up for Kiekko-Ketut. According to the team's Instagram page, their next game is Feb. 15 against Kiilat.
If Rinne does play for Kiekko-Ketut, it would be his first professional game since May 10, 2021. Rinne holds the Predators franchise record for saves (17,627), wins (369) and shutouts (60), as well as the most playoff wins (45).
Rinne won the Vezina Trophy in the 2018, the first Predators player to win an individual award, then won the King Clancy Award, given "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community," in 2021.
After his retirement in 2021, Rinne was named a development coach and scout for the Predators, based in Europe. A statue honoring Rinne was unveiled on the Bridgestone Arena plaza in March 2023
In January, Rinne was inducted into the Predators' Golden Hall, along with general manager David Poile and defenseman Shea Weber.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [e-mail]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators' Pekka Rinne signs one-game contract with Finnish team