Pekka Rinne comments on his future in Nashville amid trade speculation

Speaking with The Athletic's Adam Vingan, Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne made it clear that he does not want to play for a different team, and plans to finish out his career with the Preds.

«I believe in this team,» said the 38-year-old Rinne. «I do want to retire as a Predator.»

For this season, things are not looking good whatsoever for the Predators. They currently sit seventh out of eight teams in the Central Division, and are 10 points back of the final playoff spot. Considering they are a team that has not missed the postseason since 2013, it is an unfamiliar position for Rinne.

«For sure, I want to have success,» he said. «I've been fortunate that we've been, for most of my career, doing pretty well. For the most part, we've never been sellers at the deadline. Obviously, I don't want to go through that. This is the team I want to retire (with).»

Rinne is currently in the final year of a two-year, $10 million contract. Given the way the Preds have played this season, it's likely they sell at the deadline, though they may hold on to the Finnish netminder out of loyalty for everything he has done for the franchise. Though he has not been able to lead them to a Stanley Cup, he has given them many solid seasons throughout his 678-game career, none better than his Vezina Trophy winning 2017-18 season in which he posted a 2.31 goals against average (GAA) along with a .927 save percentage (SV%).

His age is beginning to show however, as the once dominant netminder struggled last season and is once again this year. In 19 games this season, he has a 3.22 GAA along with a .893 SV% and a 6-11-1 record.

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