Pekka Rinne thought he was on the video call to surprise Shea Weber.

The plan seemed plausible enough that the former goaltender revealed to Weber — a former Nashville captain and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2024 — that he would be the first player inducted into the Predators’ Golden Hall.

Announced last summer with former Predators general manager David Poile as its first inductee, the Preds Golden Hall will honor players and others who have influenced and positively shaped the Smashville community over the first 25 years of the franchise and beyond.

Of course, that sounds like Weber, doesn’t it?

Meanwhile, Weber thought he was there to surprise Rinne.

The plan seemed plausible enough that the former captain revealed to Rinne – Nashville’s beloved son with his own statue outside Bridgestone Arena and his number 35 hanging from the rafters – that he would be the first player inducted at the Preds’ Golden Hall. .

But as Weber, back home in his native British Columbia, told Rinne from his native Finland, the two best players in Preds history began to take over.

“It’s a trap call, huh?” Weber laughed while Rinne flashed an equally happy and unexpected smile with Preds CEO Sean Henry and general manager Barry Trotz among those surprised.

As the Predators determined who should be part of the Hall’s inaugural class alongside Poilethe answer became quite clear.

Therefore, on January 16, 2025, Rinne and Weber will take their place as the first two players in the Golden Hall, and there are no two people more deserving.

“There have already been a lot of cool celebrations after my retirement, but this one is nice,” Rinne said after Weber told him the news. “It obviously means a lot to me since I played all my years in Nashville, but it also goes to you (Shea). It is my honor to announce your induction into the Preds Hall of Fame. So, congratulations, buddy. I couldn’t be more proud to join you.

“I didn’t expect this,” Weber said of the induction. “I knew (Rinne), but obviously it’s a great honor for me, as are you, to play most of my career in Nashville and to have grown up there. It means a lot. I can’t say enough about what you guys have meant to me and Peks during our time together and our friendship, I mean that’s what hockey is, the friendship we’ve gained for life and I’m honored to. Hearing this news too is great.

Weber is the first player drafted by the Predators to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Predators, recording 443 points (166g-277a) in 763 games. The recipient of the 2016 Mark Messier Leadership Award, Weber captained the Predators for six campaigns and is third in franchise history in games played, fourth in goals and fifth in points.

Rinne is Nashville’s all-time leader in virtually every goaltending statistical category and is so far the only player to have his number retired by the franchise. The Finn retired in July 2021 as the Predators’ goaltending leader in games played (683), wins (369), goals against average (2.43), total TOI (39,413:29 ), shutouts (60) and saves (17,627).

“It’s only right that you two go together,” Trotz told Rinne and Weber. “I know the friendship you have. You will be (will be) friends for life and a big part of the organization. So it’s only natural that you both go together. I think it’s a really special thing.

In addition to becoming the Golden Hall’s first inductee, Poile will also serve as its president and leader of its selection committee.

The Preds Golden Hall will welcome at least one new member each year and will be located on the south end of the Gary Force Acura level of Bridgestone Arena, near the Predators alumni puck wall.