Nashville will pay less in salary to its top two goalies in 2020-21 than it has in nearly a decade

The Nashville Predators have no reason to suspect the quality of their goaltending will decline over the next couple of years.

The cost will, however.

The two-year, $10 million contract extension Pekka Rinne signed Saturday means that — barring any significant roster moves — the Predators will pay less, in terms of salary, for their top two goalies in 2020-21 than they have in close to a decade. In fact, the combined cost of their netminders, Rinne and Juuse Saros, will decrease by $1 million next season and $2 million the season after that.

“Hopefully this helps in a way that makes this team stay together moving forward,” Rinne said. “I think we have an opportunity to keep this same team. I love this group, and I really think we have a chance this year and years to come.”

Rinne’s new deal will pay him $6 million in 2019-20 and $4 million in 2020-21. He is earning $7 million this season, the last under a seven-year, $49 million pact he signed exactly seven years earlier.

The extension also syncs with the end of Saros’ current contract (three years, $4.5 million).

That means that following the 2020-21 season, franchise leaders can take stock of the goalie situation and decide what to do from there. At that time, Rinne will be 38 years old and Saros will be 26 and — presumably — ready for the number-one role.

A rundown of the combined salaries of the Nashville Predators’ top two goalies 2011-12 through 2020-21):

2011-12

$4.375 million

Rinne $4 million, Lindback $737,500

2012-13

$8.25 million

Rinne $7 million, Mason $1.25 million

2013-14

$7.55 million

Rinne $7 million, Hutton $550,000

2014-15

$7.7 million

Rinne $7 million, Hutton $700,000

2015-16

$7.75 million

Rinne $7 million, Hutton $750,000

2016-17

$7.425 million

Rinne $7 million, Saros $742,500

2017-18

$7.425 million

Rinne $7 million, Saros $742,500

2018-19

$8.5 million

Rinne $7 million, Saros $1.5 million

2019-20

$7.5 million

Rinne $6 million, Saros $1.5 million

2020-21

$5.5 million

Rinne $4 million, Saros $1.5 million



“(Rinne) is such a huge part in this locker room and he’s our leader,” captain Roman Josi said. “He’s been here for so long. He’s such a great guy and (he’s) the best goaltender in the league. To keep a guy like him around, it’s awesome for us.”

If Rinne’s willingness to play for less indicates he expects his performance to decrease at some point, it did not show Saturday. He stopped all 26 shots he faced against the Boston Bruins, one of the NHL’s best offensive teams, and the Predators ran their win streak to three games with a 1-0 triumph. He became the fourth NHL goalie this season with multiple shutouts and climbed to second in the league in goals-against average (1.63) and save percentage (.948) as the season moved into its second month.

“Every day he is and continues to be the backbone of this organization and team and has probably had the biggest impact on this organization,” coach Peter Laviolette said.

Yet he won’t be putting a big strain on the salary cap.



