Bruins sign Rask to 1-year, $1M deal
The Boston Bruins signed goaltender Tuukka Rask to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $1 million, the team announced Tuesday.
Rask will only earn $545,000 since he's signing so late in the season, per PuckPedia.
Rask signed a professional tryout with the AHL's Providence Bruins on Thursday. He was aiming to play in a game or two in the minors to get up to speed, but Providence's matchups on Friday and Sunday were postponed due to COVID-19 issues. He was released from his AHL PTO on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old underwent surgery on a torn hip labrum in June - an injury that was expected to keep him out for seven months. He practiced with Boston in recent months while rehabbing the injury.
Rask, who was an unrestricted free agent, had stated numerous times that the Bruins were the only NHL team he'd play for.
His arrival causes a logjam in Boston's crease. Rookie Jeremy Swayman and offseason acquisition Linus Ullmark have both performed admirably:
| Goalie | Rec. | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ullmark | 11-5-0 | 2.57 | .917 |
| Swayman | 8-6-2 | 2.26 | .918 |
Swayman would not need to go through waivers if he was sent down to the AHL. Ullmark, who signed a four-year, $20-million contract as a UFA in the summer, would.
Rask is one of the most decorated goaltenders in Bruins history. He's the franchise's all-time wins leader with 306 and sits fourth in NHL history with a career .921 save percentage. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2014, the Jennings Trophy in 2020, and a Stanley Cup in 2011 (albeit as the backup). He also led the Bruins to Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2013 and 2019.
In 24 games last season, Rask recorded a .913 save percentage. He started 11 more games in the playoffs and owned a .919 save percentage.