Breaking Down The Net, Part 1

4. Pekka Rinne may have had an off season last year, but with the loss of Ryan Suter, the entire team in Nashville felt the struggle. The Predators went out and loaded up on some more offense this offseason and look to bounce back from a some what disappointing season last year. If Rinne can get some more help, it will help his numbers look a bit better. Despite the large numbers last season, Rinne was still outstanding, he just didn’t have the group around him to help him out.

Rinne posted a record of 15-16-8 record with 5 shutouts last season and started 42 games. The Predators workhorse of a goaltender held an average goals against average of 2.43, and a save percentage of .910. Not nearly as exciting to look at as his numbers from the season before when he went 43-18-8 with a goals against average of 2.39, and a save percentage of .923%. And even those numbers came down from the season before.

Rinne is as solid as it gets in net for Nashville. Carter Hutton will back up Rinne this season in net. Hutton has only played one game at the NHL level for the Chicago Blackhawks last season. He allowed 3 goals on 28 shots, but did something to impress the coaches in Nashville and earn him a spot on an NHL club.