Rinne Inspired by Nashville Community, Hopes Preds Resume Playing Soon

The dogs of NHL players are making the most out of their owners being home six weeks running, and Pabla Rinne is no exception.

The bernedoodle puppy made an appearance on her owner's - and Predators goaltender, Pekka's - video chat on Monday afternoon, lying on the couch, not a care in the world.

"She's a good girl," Rinne said while showing off his companion. "She loves this quarantine, gets a lot of attention, gets a lot of love, a lot of walks. I'm all worried when things get back to normal, I think she's going to be in one. She's going to be shocked."

With the NHL discussing plans of a possible resumption to the 2019-20 season this summer, that day may be coming sooner than later for Pabla and her K-9 companions, but her puck-stopping owner wouldn't mind.

Rinne has been hunkered down at his home in Nashville with his girlfriend and their pup for the past six weeks, and the goaltender has spent his time working out, learning how to juggle and binge-watching plenty of television programs, including Tiger King.

"That was crazy," Rinne smirked. "Nuts."

What's not nearly as ludicrous is the potential to return to the ice soon, and while Rinne has been paying attention to the news, he's trying not to get too wrapped up in all of the rumors of what the NHL landscape might look like this summer. Instead, he's focused on making sure he'd be ready if and when the time comes.

"Not being able to go on the ice, it makes things a little bit more challenging, and you have to get creative, especially with goalie-specific [training]," Rinne said. "But I think the biggest thing is keeping your endurance and your physical fitness at a level that, if we resumed play, that you're ready to go right away. I feel like that's the biggest area I've been focusing on."

The netminder has also received some assistance when it comes to part of that preparation, even with the simple test of tasks.

"My girlfriend has been throwing tennis balls at me, so I'm good to go," Rinne laughed. "But the main thing for me is staying in a good condition, mentally, stay in a good place, and I feel like I've been doing that, so I'm feeling pretty good."

The 37-year-old Rinne is in the first half of a two-year deal and has shown he still has the ability to steal games for his team, but he knows he's entered the later portion of his career. A pause of this nature is less than ideal, but Rinne says he tries not to think too far ahead into the future. Instead, he's focused on doing what he can in the present to be able to help his team, no matter when that day returns.

"I realize the fact that I haven't had the strongest season so far, but at the same time, I've tried to use this time to my advantage," Rinne said. "I used the first couple of weeks to kind of wind down and reflect back on the season and then start preparing to be ready to play this season [if it resumes again]. If that's not happening, I feel like it's a headstart to next season and training for next season. No matter what happens, I've tried to keep the positive mindset. I've tried to take the best out of it… but [I do think about the time I have left in my career]. I do wish that I can get back on the ice, hopefully sooner than later."

Some of his fellow European teammates have chosen to spend this time back across the Atlantic, but it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Rinne remained in Nashville. The Finn has described Music City as his home on prior occasions, and he knows what this town is made of, especially in moments of challenge.

And just like in the floods of 2010 or the March tornadoes that saw the Predators raise money and help their community like they always do, Rinne has marveled at Nashville's resilience once more.

"It's such a strong community, and it takes a lot to break anybody down," Rinne said. "Like in any issue, as an individual, sometimes you go down and you feel crushed under all this burden, but this community lifts you up, and I think that's the power of communities… Even now with the time of social distancing you can still sense the community, you can still sense that people are in it together. Everybody keeps sending that message, and it's a very empowering thing."

Rinne hopes to be able to give his city something else to rally around soon, and no matter how the puck may drop in the months to come, the prospect of competing with his teammates again helps to keep the netminder going.

"I [miss] the camaraderie… just to be able to compete… just to go back on the ice and challenge yourself… I think that's the one thing that I really [miss]," Rinne said. "It's always fun to go to the rink and see the boys, but just the feeling of being in it together and working toward a common goal, that's an amazing thing."