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A decision on Tuukka Rask is looming for the Bruins
Rask might be ready ahead of schedule. So what will the Bruins do?
The Boston Bruins knew a decision on Tuukka Rask’s future would eventually come.
Rask and the Bruins still have time to negotiate a new short-term deal. Yet, Rask’s rehab from off-season hip surgery is apparently ahead of schedule.
Bruce Cassidy echoed that sentiment as Rask resumed his on-ice routine — sharing time with Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark — ahead of Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena. The Bruins’ medical staff originally slated Rask’s potential return in the February-March timeframe.
But given Sean McDonough’s comments during Friday’s Bruins-Rangers telecast on ABC, Rask’s return may even come a month earlier.
As Rask progresses, the Bruins may encounter their latest Rask conundrum sooner than anticipated. Regardless, they haven’t witnessed any setback in Rask’s recovery to date.
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“He’s completely on schedule,” said Cassidy. “The schedule — again, we’ll defer to the medical people — was supposed to be somewhere after the New Year. Could be into February. February’s the Olympic break, so then it bleeds into March. There was a little bit of leeway there when I was told, originally, when the surgery happened. So I think he’s right there, if not probably a little ahead. I know he’s not behind.”
Unlike Rask’s improving prognosis, the Bruins find themselves behind the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Lightning in the Atlantic standings nearly two months into the Swyman-Ullmark tandem. While Ullmark and Swayman provided solid goaltending in spurts, the duo has struggled at times providing consistency during Boston’s quirky first-quarter slate.
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The goaltending and defensive struggles led to Boston’s passionate fanbase calling for Rask’s return. Even noted Rask critics like 98.5’s Tony Massarotti admit they want to see the 34-year-old return.
Rask wants to return to Boston for another attempt at the Stanley Cup. The pricing shouldn’t come at a premium for the cap-strapped Bruins. After all, the Finn jokingly admitted he’d play for $250,000 and an endless supply of Bud Lights.
The more significant question facing the Bruins isn’t so much fitting Rask under their nearly $3 million of current cap space. Instead the bigger picture circles around who Don Sweeney keeps as his second netminder.
The statistical differences aren’t significantly far apart between Swayman (6-4-0, 2.42 GAA, .908 SV%) and Ullmark (5-3-0, 2.76 GAA, .914%). Neither netminder really had a chance to build on his performances after alternating starts in Boston’s first 18 games of 2021-22. Ullmark and Swayman have a significant opportunity to land consecutive starts as the Bruins embark on a busier slate leading up to the Olympic break.
Ideally, from a financial standpoint, the Bruins would keep their $5 million investment in Ullmark and send a waivers-exempt Swayman to Providence upon Rask’s potential return. The former Sabre battled through a rough 40-minute stretch in Sunday’s start, making a handful of timely stops in the third in Boston’s 3-2 win over Vancouver. He’ll get the nod again on Tuesday against the Red Wings.
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Cassidy addressed the Rask situation with Ullmark and Swayman at training camp. They’re inching closer to learning Rask’s fate — and ultimately their own — heading into the holidays.
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