Nashville Predators: Time to start thinking of life after Pekka Rinne

Pekka Rinne is already on the wrong side of 30, pushing 40 years old at this point. He’s showing no signs of slowing down but the Nashville Predators should start to get ready for life after their franchise goalie.

Pekka Rinne holds a special place in Nashville Predators franchise history. After taking over the starter’s role in 2008-2009, he has had a part in nearly all of Nashville’s greatest on-ice accomplishments.

But all good things must come to an end. Father Time is beginning to catch up to Rinne who’s already 37 years old. He looked like he was in the twilight of his career until the Predators run to the 2017 Stanley Cup finals breathed new life into his game.

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This is when Rinne began to put up Vezina Trophy-level numbers once again, finally winning the elusive award in 2018. He isn’t getting any younger. Even though his numbers are still good, it’s time for the Predators to start getting ready for life after Rinne.

The situation the Predators are in now is similar to the one the New Jersey Devils were in during the last few years of Martin Brodeur’s career. Brodeur was clearly on the decline and the team should have started looking for their new goaltender.

However, team nostalgia mixed with a flash in the pan performance from the 40-year-old netminder during the 2012 playoffs led the team to believe they could buy some time. Brodeur’s shelf life didn’t last much longer after that one last cup run. The Devils were lucky enough to secure Corey Schneider as the heir apparent as they entered a rebuild a few seasons later.

Brodeur is the perfect comparison because both he and Rinne are older goaltenders loved by their franchise that defied age with their postseason performance in surprising Stanley Cup runs. They differ in the fact that Brodeur was a few years older at the time, but more importantly, Rinne has been able to consistently post decent numbers in the seasons after.

Let this be a tale of caution to the Predators. Rinne might have a few good years left in him, but it’s quite obvious that he will be outlasted by the likes of PK Subban and Filip Forsberg. Leaving him in their short-term success plans is fine, but Nashville should think twice before including him in the long-term.

“But what about Juuse Saros”, you might be thinking. “Surely the Predators want him to be Rinne’s replacement once he leaves Nashville?” By all means, the 23-year-old goalie has the makings to be the next Music City star on skates. In his past three seasons as Nashville’s back up, this year has been his worst statistically as he has posted a 2.65 goals against average and .914 save percentage. Both of those numbers are above average for a backup, and roughly on par with Rinne, although Rinne’s goals against average is 0.11 better.

It looks like Saros has all the makings to be promoted to the starts role the same way Tuukka Rask gracefully took over the crease for the Boston Bruins after Tim Thomas left to take his weird one year sabbatical.

But Saros could also make excellent trade bait to a team desperately needing a young and undisputed number one. The trade that sent Martin Jones from the Los Angeles Kings to the San Jose Sharks (with that little detour through Boston) shows the potential market and return. And if the trade that sent Kevin Fiala to the Minnesota Wild this past deadline is any indication, General Manager David Poile isn’t afraid to trade away young talent.

If Saros is still around when Rinne hangs up high highlighter yellow jersey, then Saros will undoubtedly take over the reins. If a good enough offer comes Poile’s way while Rinne is still Nashville’s number one, Saros might end up playing elsewhere.

Before Poile hypothetically sends Saros packing, he has to consider the impact that his departure has on the future of the Predator’s goal tending. It’s still Rinne’s show for the time being, but Nashville needs to start having a plan to have someone else in the crease, whoever that would be.

Rinne might be having a career resurgence with a Predators team that’s done some playoff damage, but that isn’t going to last forever.