Tuukka Rask has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Boston Bruins, a source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday. The 2014 Vezina Trophy winner will be the team's backup Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens and could start Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Rask has a 19-2-4 career record against the Flyers, with a .927 save percentage.
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Rask was supposed to get at least one minor-league warmup start last weekend against Lehigh Valley after signing a professional tryout contract with Providence, the Bruins' AHL affiliate. But both of Providence’s games against the Phantoms were postponed because of COVID-19 complications involving Lehigh Valley.
Rask was released from his PTO on Tuesday. Jeremy Swayman will be assigned to Providence. He is not eligible to be moved onto the taxi squad, per general manager Don Sweeney.
In 560 games played, all with the Bruins, Rask has a career record of 306-163-66 with a goals-against average of 2.27 and a .921 save percentage.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
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How has Rask looked so far in practices?
Fluto Shinzawa, senior Bruins writer: Rask has looked like Rask: big, calm, fast, square, in complete control of his game. He's given shooters very little to target in practice.
"I’ve watched him for years, so I’m stating the obvious: He’s an excellent goaltender," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Technically sound. Not a lot of wasted movement for Tuukka. It’s been his strength since he came into the league as a 20-year-old. I think it’s been well documented, if you go back and look at the scouting reports, people have talked about him, how it was his strength. I remember in Providence as a young guy, just in control, that’s been his game from Day 1."
How much have the Bruins missed him?
Shinzawa: The Bruins missed Rask early in the season when Linus Ullmark was adjusting from Buffalo and Jeremy Swayman was experiencing rookie turbulence. The team was defending well in front of their goalies but was allowing more goals than expected, especially off the rush, because of inconsistent puckstopping.
Ullmark and Swayman have been better of late, but that may be because they feel the competition from Rask's pending return.
Is demoting Swayman the right move?
Shinzawa: Swayman has been sharp since the shutdown, but he can be assigned without requiring waivers. Ullmark has no-move protection. It will not hurt Swayman to accumulate AHL reps.