For the first time, a player who spent his entire career in Nashville will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who spent 18 seasons in Nashville and retired in 2021, has been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 alongside Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price and Keith Tkachuk. 

Rinne said that he was back at home in Finland with his wife and children. He did recognize the number he was receiving the call from. Suddenly realizing who it was, he gave his wife a blank stare and tried to mouth the words "the Hall of Fame."

"It's an unbelievable moment," Rinne said. "Right after I called my mom and dad, I have two sisters and I called them. I never, in a million years, did I think that I'd get that call." 

Rinne is the fourth Predators player to be elected to the Hall of Fame, joining Shea Weber (2024), Peter Forsberg (2014) and Paul Kariya (2017). 

With Rinne and Price playing at the same time and now getting inducted simultaneously, the Canadiens goaltender was complementary of Rinne's career and what it meant to get inducted together.  

"I have a ton of respect for Pecks and his abilities," Price said. "I've always thought that his standard of compete level was always at the pinnacle. His battle level was unmatched by any goaltender in the league. 
It's a real treat to be able to think about being able to go in there (Hall of Fame) with Pecks because we competed against each other for so long." 

The Predators goaltender is debatably the most successful and popular player in franchise history. He played in 683 NHL games, posting a 369-213-75 record with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. 

In the playoffs, he had a 49-44 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. During the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he played in 22 games, posting a 14-8 record to help the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history. 

Rinne is a four-time NHL All-Star, 2018 Vezina Trophy winner and 2018 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner. 

Internationally, Rinne has won a silver medal with Finland at the 2014 World Championship and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament that same year. In 2017, he was named the Finnish Player of the Year. 

In 2022, he had his No. 35 retired by the Predators. The preceding year, Rinne became the first player to have a statue dedicated outside of Bridgestone Arena. 

He still remains a part of the Predators organization as a European scout and goaltender development coach.

"Who would have thought," Rinne said. "It's an unbelievable honor. I share this honor with my family, but secondly, my former teammates and then obviously the people of Nashville, the fans...I'm still just trying to take it all in, but I'm just so proud of it."

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will occur on Nov. 9 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.