The hockey world was astonished: Finnish NHL legend selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame – “Quite a surprise”
Finnish goaltending legend Pekka Rinne has been selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2026. The announcement was made on Monday.
Rinne’s selection came as a surprise to many. He was not included in the Daily Faceoff predicted listings.
– Pekka Rinne’s selection was quite a surprise, ESPN reporter Greg Wyshynski commented on the decision via the X messaging service.
Rinne played his entire NHL career with the Nashville Predators and appeared in a total of 683 regular season games. Over the years, he became one of the most significant players in the franchise’s history.
His greatest individual achievement was the 2017–18 season when he won the NHL’s best goaltender Vezina Trophy. Additionally, in 2017, he helped Nashville reach the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Finals.
Rinne retired in 2021. His NHL statistics included 369 wins, a save percentage of 91.7, and a goals-against average of 2.43.
Also named to the 2026 Hall of Fame class were Carey Price, Patrice Bergeron, and Keith Tkachuk, as well as American female hockey player Cindy Curley. In the builders category, NHL influencer Brian Burke was honored.
The absence of Finnish goaltender Noora Räty from the list also sparked discussion, as she was considered by many to be a potential Hall of Fame selection.
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