The Boston Bruins announced Thursday that goaltender Tuukka Rask has secured a professional tryout contract with their American Hockey League school club. But if one can trust the words of the principal concerned, Rask does not intend to be unemployed too long in Providence.
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“It’s all going to depend on how I’m feeling, my ability to spot the puck and that sort of thing,” said Rask, whose words were echoed by NHL.com after his press conference for the day. Physically, I feel good. Of course, it’s been a long time since I saw any action in a game. I am confident that there will be no problem. ”
The masked man hinted that the Bruins had a specific plan for him. After an American League debut on Friday, he could be back in the National League in less than a week.
The 34-year-old also mentioned that retirement has never been a real option on the table since having successfully had surgery on his right hip.
“It was a sign to me that I was going to try to make a comeback if the procedure and the rehabilitation went as well as it did,” said the doorman. I never thought [à la retraite]. I’ve been in rehabilitation for the past five to six months so it would have been a long process to get involved in just deciding not to come back. I never flirted with the opportunity to hang up my leg warmers. ”
Find Bergeron and Marchand
The desire to continue his journey with two of his former teammates, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2011, also motivated him in his return to the game.
“That’s also why, in my head, I didn’t want to flirt with the opportunity to play elsewhere. Everyone knows it’s a business. But for us players, when we have a team like the Bruins – which many of us grew up on together – you feel that brotherhood and you don’t want to give up your teammates on bad terms. ”
A net for three in Boston?
In the event that Rask returns to the Bettman Tour, the Bruins would be stuck with a happy problem. They would count on the presence of three goalkeepers who can defend their cage regularly and effectively.
In addition to presenting interesting records, Jeremy Swayman (8-5-2) and Linus Ullmark (9-5-0) post similar statistics. The 23-year-old has a 2.20 goals against average and a .920 save rate, while the 28-year-old second has preserved a 2.58 goals-against average and an effectiveness rate of .917.
Rask is already used to the concept of a split net, as the Bruins have resorted to this method in recent years with Swayman and Jaroslav Halak, among others, to support the Finn.
“I’m not looking for a big contract. I just wanted to come back, help the guys and do my part, Rask assured. Obviously, people who see this from the outside will see it as a source of controversy. There will always be when you play in Boston. But so far I got along well with [Swayman] and [Ullmark] when we shared the net in training. ”
In recent weeks, the Finn has indeed trained a few times with the Bruins.
The wear of time
Finland’s Tuukka Rask played his entire professional North American career with the Bruins, who played 560 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 2008 and 2021. Free agent at the end of the last season. campaign, he did not sign a new contract with a formation of the Bettman circuit.
“It was just a situation where there was wear and tear over time, as is often the case when you’ve been doing so much mileage that your body breaks, and for goalies the hips are often the first.” flinching, Rask noted at a press conference about the surgery he underwent. The biggest problem in my case was the blockage in the joint and the pain it caused me. This is all in the past. It makes a big difference. Every time I put myself in the “butterfly” position and get back up, I no longer have to worry about this blockage and the harm it was causing. I feel very good.”
The 2013-14 Vézina Trophy recipient maintained a 306-163-66 record, .925 save efficiency and a 2.22 career NHL goals-against average. He is expected to be the Providence club starter on Friday night in a game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It would be the first clash for him in the AHL since the 2008-2009 campaign.