Nashville Predators: Top Offseason Priorities to Address

Nashville Predators center Matt Duchene (95) celebrates with goaltender Juuse Saros (74) after scoring the game-winning goal in the second overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nashville Predators center Matt Duchene (95) celebrates with goaltender Juuse Saros (74) after scoring the game-winning goal in the second overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nashville Predators
Predators goalies Juuse Saros, left, and Pekka Rinne,  in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. /

Re-Sign Pekka Rinne as back-up to Juuse Saros

It’s going to be the main topic of conversation all offseason until Pekka Rinne gives us a clear answer on his future plans. He didn’t offer much clarity in the end-of-season presser the team held:

Rinne deserves whatever he wants at this point in his career. He’s earned it and been the foundation of this franchise for over a decade. What he wants fans everywhere should be supportive of.

The Predators front office needs to do everything they can to re-sign Rinne to a one-year deal. Rinne showed he’s still a fully capable backup in this league, and he’d be very beneficial to Saros’ continuing development into a franchise goaltender.

Expect Nashville Predators GM David Poile to put the fullcourt press on re-signing Rinne, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Rinne decides to play for a team that gives him a better deal or even longer term deal if he wants to play longer than just one more season.

So much is still up in the air on this, but Connor Ingram or an outside free agent is another possibility to be Saros’ back-up next season.