Breaking: Predators sign Rinne to a surprising new contract.

I think you can put the rumors of a Pekka Rinne trade to bed following this announcement.

According to a breaking news report from Nashville Predators insider Adam Vingan of The Athletic the Nashville Predators have just come to terms on a brand new contract with their star goaltender. The deal is reportedly worth $10 million and is a two year contract extension which will keep Rinne on the Predators roster through the 2019 - 2020 National Hockey League season. According to Vingan's report the contract breaks down as follows, Rinne will earn $6 million next season on this new deal and will drop down to $4 million two seasons from now.

While t's no surprise to see both the Predators and Rinne remain loyal to one another, however with the strong performances of 23 year old goaltender Juuse Saros this season there were some rumblings that suggested the Predators could be moving towards the much younger goaltender. That being said Rinne has played every single game of his National Hockey League career as a member of the Predators organization, a team that took a gamble on him in the 8th round of the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Predators picked him 258th overall that year and it's a move that they couldn't possibly have hope to see pan out this way even in their wildest dreams. 

Although Rinne has flatered at times he has largely been extremely consistent throughout his NHL career as a Predator, considered by many pundits to be one of the NHL's premier goaltenders. Rinne was off to another strong start this time around with a very solid 0.940 save percentage and an equally strong 1.91 goals against average on the year. Clearly the Predators liked what they are seeing this season out of Rinne in spite of his advanced age by the standards of the NHL, and he has been justly rewarded for both his strong player this season, and for the level of play the Predators likely expect out of him in the next 2 years as well.

Although the Preda could have likely gotten something big in a trade involving Rinne, I have little doubt that the Predators' fan base will be happy with this move. 

[pub]