Goalie David Rittich has signed with the Nashville Predators on a one-year deal worth $1.25 million.
David Rittich to NSH, one year, $1.25M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 28, 2021
David Rittich Leaves Toronto Maple Leafs for Nashville Predators
In the signing with the Predators, Rittich leaves the team that took him on as a rental this past trade deadline. It was pretty much expected Rittich would be hitting the open market. The net-minder went undrafted, signing his first pro contract with the Calgary Flames in 2016.
Rittich would go on to have two above-average seasons with Calgary. He spent his time in Calgary as a 1B goalie, appearing in a career-high 48 games during the 2019-20 season. Throughout his 134 game career, Rittich has posted a record of 64-40-16. Additionally, Rittich has been credited with a career SV% of .907 and a GAA of 2.82. The main highlight of the 29-year-old’s career so far was his incredible record of 27-9-5 during the 2018-19 season. His best season in GSAx (goals saved above expected) also came during the 2018-19 season. Rittich posted a GSAx of -1.22.
Rittich has recorded a career GSAx of -22.88 (data via Evolving Hockey).
Nashville’s Goaltending Situation
With the singing of Rittich, the Predators add a decent backup goalie to Juuse Saros. Pekka Rinne retired this past off-season, leaving a goalie opening for the Predators. Rittich was a solid option to fill the role of the veteran goaltender (the 38-year-old Rinne). A low-risk, low-reward signing for Nashville considering their future stud Yaroslav Askarov is not quite NHL ready. A one-year deal for Rittich to take some of the workload off of Saros.
The Predators have one of the best goal-tending pools in the NHL, consisting of Juuse Saros, David Rittich, Connor Ingram, and Yaroslav Askarov. Ingram is another promising young goalie for Nashville. It seems as the Predators management didn’t think Ingram was ready for a job in the NHL. Nashville had a strong 2021 draft and continues to have an interesting off-season.
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