Getty Images Ryan Suter is gone, Shea Weber might soon be out the door with him. Anyone checked on Pekka Rinne to see how he’s feeling about all this?
Rinne committed himself to Nashville back in November signing a seven-year extension and depending on how things break out this week with Weber, he might be the last superstar left in town. For a guy that helped buoy the team with his stellar play in goal, that sets him up having to be the man needed to keep the Predators hopes for a Stanley Cup alive.
Fortunately for the Predators, Rinne needing to be at the top of his game is something he’s used to.
Of the 164 regular season games played the last two seasons, Rinne has been in 137 of them including an astounding 73 this past year. His 2010-2011 was statistically better playing in 64 games, but you’d have to think coach Barry Trotz would love to lighten the load regardless. With Anders Lindback now in Tampa Bay, it’ll be up to one-time Predator Chris Mason to help spell the Finnish star this time around.
Thankfully for the Preds, Rinne is still just 29 years-old but a consistent workload like that won’t do much to keep him fresh for the playoffs or for seeing the end of his contract. For now, it’s on Rinne to continue being a Vezina-caliber player to keep hope alive in Music City.
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Chris Kreider with some more playoff magic.
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Not Tuukka Rask’s best moments.
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GM David Poile compares him favorably to Brad Marchand.
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Mike Milbury isn’t totally certain.
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Limited to one joke regarding that Jeremy Roenick quip.
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Boston’s lineup stays the same as the first three contests.
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Gotta pay Zach Parise and Ryan Suter somehow, huh?
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“The L.A. Kings were a game away from missing the playoffs, and now suddenly they’re the template for everything good in hockey, and I don’t think that’s the case.”
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It’s official: Colorado names Roy sixth head coach in franchise history
May 23, 2013, 4:55 PM EDT
Franchise legend returns, nearly 10 years after retirement.
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Torey Krug, Dougie Hamilton (and Matt Bartkowski) all expected to stick.
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Shutting down the Blackhawks will do that.
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But Drew Doughty says Galiardi is the biggest diver on the Sharks, so there.
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For a headshot on Flyers prospect Taylor Leier.
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Good news for Phoenix hockey fans? (Or just…news.)
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Goalless Toews: adversity ‘something you have to face come playoff time’
May 23, 2013, 2:34 PM EDT
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“You don’t win a Stanley Cup without going through something like that.”
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It’s not pretty.
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What happens to the coach if the Rangers get swept tonight?
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Alfredsson says postgame comments ‘probably’ taken out of context
May 23, 2013, 1:24 PM EDT
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When asked if Ottawa could come back from a 3-1 series deficit against Pittsburgh, he said “probably not.”
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“That’s the way he plays.”
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It would cost them $24 million over 14 years.
