Nashville, Tenn. (August 23, 2005) – Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed goaltender Pekka Rinne (PECK-ah REEN-eh). In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Rinne, 22 (11/3/82), captured the Finnish Elite League championship in each of the past two seasons as a member of Karpat Oulu. The 6-5, 207-pound Kempele, Finland native attended Nashville prospect conditioning camps in 2004 and 2005. He appeared in 10 games in 2004-05, registering a record of 8-1-0 with a 1.68 goals-against average. His professional development began in the Karpat system, where he played for their junior team from 2001-2003.
Originally Nashville’s 10th choice, 258th overall (eighth round), in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Rinne becomes the first member of the Predators’ 2004 Entry Draft class to sign with Nashville.