Nashville Predators: Ranking the Top-5 Goaltenders in Team History

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In their 22-year history, the Nashville Predators have had some great goaltenders. Some of which carried the team to new heights.

With the sports world “on pause,” we’re going to take a look at the top-five goaltenders in Nashville Predators’ history and go down memory lane a bit.

“Goalie,” “Goaltender,” “Tendy,” and “Net-Minder” are all common terms that describe what may be one of the most challenging positions to play in the NHL. It takes an exceptional person who is willing to submit themselves to the type of abuse that goaltenders endure.

Imagine carrying and wearing heavier equipment than anyone else on the team. When goaltenders take the ice, every piece of equipment that they utilize is oversized.

Goaltenders are also required to carry all of this equipment while on skates, and with someone shooting a hard rubber biscuit toward them at speeds clocked at over 100 miles per hour.

Over the years, the Nashville Predators have been fortunate to have a good group of these sports “masochists.” Here is an unscientific look at our top-five.

Anders Lindback

Win/Loss – 16/13

Shutouts – 2

Save % – 0.914

GAA – 2.53

Coming in at No.5 on our list is Anders Lindback. The Swedish netminder was drafted in 2008 by the Predators in the seventh round.

Lindback made his debut during the 2010 NHL season. He had the dubious task of backing up Pekka Rinne, who was undoubtedly the future. During the 2010 season, Lindback recorded each of his two career shutouts within a span of two days.

While Lindback wasn’t a Predator for very long and didn’t play in a ton of games, his save percentage and GAA remained strong. In fact, Lindback has the second-best GAA for all Predators’ goaltenders, second only to Rinne.

After two seasons with the Predators, Lindback was traded to Tampa Bay in 2012. You have to think he could’ve handled the primary starting role pretty well if Rinne had not been ahead of him on the depth chart.

Carter Hutton

Win/Loss – 33-23-12

Shutouts – 4

Save % – 0.910

GAA – 2.55

Next up on our list is Carter Hutton. Hutton came to the Predators in 2013 from the Chicago Blackhawks. He served as the backup goaltender to Rinne.

Once again this is a case of having a very solid backup goaltender, and one that was fully capable of starting for many other teams at the time.

In 2013, Rinne underwent hip surgery and was unable to play for several months. Hutton took over for as the starting goaltender while he was out. He performed admirably when called upon to step in when the team needed him.

Hutton is ranked sixth in save percentage among all-time Predators goaltenders. However, he ranks third among all Predators’ goaltenders with a GAA of 2.55.

This statistic and his win/loss record helped Hutton make our list. If Rinne wasn’t as elite as he was, then Hutton had every ability to put up very solid numbers worthy of making him a top goaltender in team history.

Juuse Saros

Win/Loss – 55-36-16

Shutouts – 11

Save % – 0.918

GAA – 2.56

The still young Juuse Saros is third on our list. His story is nowhere near being finished, and the best is almost certainly still to come for him in Nashville.

Saros was drafted in the fourth round by the Nashville Predators in 2013. He spent some time with AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals before becoming the backup goaltender to Pekka Rinne.

Saros has already racked up 11 shutouts in his young career, with four of them coming in this season, which remains unfinished.

In March, Saros blanked the Dallas Stars two games in a row to bolster the team’s chances of securing another playoff berth. We’ll have to see if that holds up, but if it doesn’t, then a huge amount of credit is owed to Saros for getting hot at the right time.

Saros’ gameplay has surged since the hiring of head coach John Hynes. Since Hynes was hired, Saros started 16 games versus 11 for Rinne.

Before the season pause, it was looking like Saros was going to be the starter for the Predators if they were able to get into the playoffs. He definitely solidified his title as the team’s future in net.

Saros is the heir-apparent to starting goaltender Pekka Rinne. Saros has started the most games of his career this season. With Rinne only having one more year on his contract, it’s Saros’ job to take.

(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images) /

Tomas Vokoun

Win/Loss – 161-159-46

Shutouts – 21

Save % – 0.913

GAA – 2.55

Drafted in the 1994 NHL Entry draft, Tomas Vokoun comes in at No.2 on our list of top goaltenders in Predators franchise history.

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Vokoun played for the Predators from 1998 to 2007, and was in net while the Predators were starting to figure out how to contend for playoff berths.

The Predators chose Vokoun during the NHL expansion draft. Montreal initially drafted him, but he only appeared in one NHL game for them.

While his win/loss column doesn’t look that eye-opening, he has an awesome save percentage of .913 and a GAA of 2.55.

You also have to take into account that those early Predators teams weren’t filled with enormous talent to protect the goaltender.

Vokoun was invited to the All-Star Game in 2003. That same season Vokoun’s play helped carry the Predators to their first playoff appearance.

Even though the Predators lost in the first round, Vokoun registered the first-ever playoff shutout for the organization. The Predators were starting to be recognized as a legit playoff contender, and in big part to having Vokoun in net.

The end of Vokoun’s career with the Predators was plagued with health issues and injuries. Eventually, he was traded to the Florida Panthers.

(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Pekka Rinne

Win/Loss – 359-201-74

Shutouts – 58

Save % – 0.917

GAA – 2.42

So you had to see this coming. Pekka Rinne is hands down the best goaltender that the Nashville Predators have ever had.

Drafted in 2004, Rinne got the full time starting gig in 2008 and has never looked back. It will be hard to see him finally hang up the skates for good, and hopefully we won’t have to see him in another team’s uniform.

In his 14 years with the only NHL team he has ever played for, Rinne has a great win/loss record to help carry some incredible Predators teams to new heights.

Rinne’s GAA is respectable at 2.42, which is the best among all Predators goaltenders. He’s had some great defenses in front of him as well, but the longevity is what’s amazing.

The Vezina Trophy winner has helped carry the Predators into the NHL playoffs for the past five seasons, and eight seasons in total.

Other notable accomplishments include Vezina finalist for three seasons before winning it finally, 44 shutouts in the past decade (58 total) and a goaltender goal this season against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Next. John Hynes Restored Hope in Predators' Season. dark

Rinne has this season and next season left on his contract. We need to cherish these final moments with our beloved goaltender. He is the foundation of this franchise, and probably will remain that for many more years to come.

Now we need to get him a well-deserved Stanley Cup.

Honorable Mentions : Chris Mason, Mike Dunham

All statistics provided by HockeyReference.com

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