There will soon come a time when Pekka Rinne will no longer be the Predators’ starting goaltender.



That isn’t a controversial statement; Rinne is 37, and retirement is a possibility when his contract expires in 2021. Still, the thought of someone other than Rinne manning the crease for the Predators is strange.



Over the past month, though, Rinne, whose 630 starts over the past 12 seasons are the third most in the NHL, has been losing his grip on the starting job. Since Nov. 23, Juuse Saros, 24, has started eight of the Predators’ 14 games. Rinne is on pace for around 47 starts, which would be his fewest in an 82-game schedule since his rookie year, excluding his injury-shortened 2013-14 season.



Goaltending has played a significant role in the Predators’ underwhelming first half of the season. Statistically, the Predators are among the best teams at limiting quality at five-on-five, with their 2.11 expected goals against per 60 minutes...