Feb 9: Rask has officially announced his retirement, explaining that his body just wasn’t responding the way he hoped. In a long statement, he thanked the organization, fans, and his many teammates for all of the support over a long career.
Feb 8: Two sources reported to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa today that the Boston Bruins don’t expect legendary goaltender Tuukka Rask to come back and play again this season, adding that Rask may finalize a retirement decision within the next few days.
Rask has not played since January 24th, allowing five goals on 27 shots to the Anaheim Ducks. He backed up the team’s next game but has been on injured reserve since that time, reporting discomfort in his hip after having surgery on it this past offseason.
While it’s not a certainty that Rask will retire, it certainly seems like the most likely option for the 34-year-old goalie. His hip surgery required extensive rehabilitation, missing nearly six months with the injury before returning to Boston in early-mid January. He hasn’t been his usual self, posting just a .844 save percentage and 4.28 goals-against average in four starts this year.
If this does end up being the end of Tuukka Time in Boston, he leaves as undoubtedly the best goaltender in franchise history. He’s first among all Bruins goalies all-time in wins (308), games played (564), and tied with Tim Thomas for best save percentage with a minimum of 100 games played (.921).
There was only one thing missing from his resume with a Vezina and Jennings Trophy already under his belt — a Stanley Cup of his own. He was the team’s backup during the 2011 Stanley Cup victory but never played a game on the playoff run behind Thomas. That was the goal he’d hoped to achieve this season, forming a formidable goalie trio with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
With that, though, the team should still be set in goal for the rest of the season. Both Ullmark and Swayman — especially Swayman — have played like legitimate starters in Boston and continue to do so. While it’ll certainly be an emotional day if Rask does announce his retirement, the team’s solidified there for the near future.
Photo from USA Today Sports Images
Thank you for a great career. Tuukka! Tuukka!
Great career but shouldn’t of comeback but that’s the Bruins for yah good luck now Bruins..
So by your comment “that’s the Bruins for ya” – your saying what exactly???
They got no future as of now
This was supposed to be the big savior of the big bad Bruins…come on goaltending is now in jeopardy so is your season .
There is no goaltending issue in Boston. Go whine somewhere else.
So up by two last night and let in some weakkkk goals that’s great goaltending…no problem I am not whining just a fact…
That they suck
not like this…
It shows tonight that no goalie means no wins and the little stupid rat hope he gets his someday ..I would be ashamed to be his teammate…no class Mr licky …
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Not everyone has class.
Why doesn’t he get credit for a Stanley cup if he was on the roster, but didn’t play?
He Tuukka their hopes away
Thanks for a Hall of Fame career and your loyalty to Boston, Tuukka. For a team that’s had some of the biggest trade steals in hockey history, yours is right up there with the best.
Ya, thanks for the Stanley cup win. Oh, wait a minute. Thanks Tim
Great career! Good thing he didn’t play for the leafs! Otherwise they would be scrambling looking for a new goalie now
Sucks to see an all time great have to retire at 34.
This dude held one of the better Pens teams I’ve seen (we had Iginla and couldn’t even get Jussi Jokinen in the lineup to 2 goals in the ECF in 2013. Not two goals a game. Two freaking goals total. Whole series.
One of our “genius” media personalities referred to him as a “clown” before the series. That take aged as poorly and as quickly as any in human history.
He could get us to the finals BUT, he couldn’t WIN in the finals. THREE TIMES. See ya choke artist, won’t miss ya.
Wow. You must really be from anywhere else, “boston”bob. Way to show a complete lack of class.
“@EvanMarinofsky
·
9h
The most mind-boggling performance from Tuukka Rask was sweeping the Penguins in the 2013 ECF.
4-0-0
134 stops on 136 shots (.985 sv %)
Just absurd when you consider how good that Penguins team was.
@realjameswright
Replying to
@EvanMarinofsky
Most Bruins fans: What about those 2 goals he let in?”
Congrats on representing most Bruins fans, Bob.
Lived 60 plus years in MA. Good riddance to him.
I don’t know if the author noticed but ullmark is outplaying swayman this year
I don’t know if YOU noticed, but no, he’s not. Look at the numbers.
Yes there numbers are almost identical. I feel like ullmark has stolen some games for them tho. I like both guys but swayman has 28 career games played so just thought it was a stretch to say “especially” swayman that’s all
Tim Thomas was a beast
Tuuka Rask tooka rest.
My name is Tuukka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes I think you’ve seen me before
It’s almost like the Bruins shouldn’t have allowed him to play with this injury last year. They let him play through a torn hip labrum. They mismanaged him horribly which almost certainly caused more damage leading to this moment where it won’t fully heal and his career is cut short years before it should have been. Way to go, Boston!
Congrats on a helluva career tuukka!
Tiny Thompson waves “hello” from beyond the grave when discussing best goalie in franchise history.
Congrats to him on a great, borderline HoF career.
Too embarrassed to be a teammate of Marchand to keep it going.