Rask says he would like to finish his career in Boston
Tuukka Rask on Wednesday announced his intention to finish his career with the Boston Bruins, but he also shed light on why he abruptly left the team last summer.
Rask raised a few eyebrows when he elected against continuing the Bruins' playoff run in August to return to his native Finland to be with his family due to a medical emergency.
“Everything happened so quickly,” Rask told reporters on Wednesday.
“I got a phone call the night before that our daughter wasn't doing so well. They had to call an ambulance.
“At that point, my mind is spinning. I'm like `I need to get out of here.' So then, the next morning I informed (Bruins president) Cam (Neely) and we had a brief talk and I just left.”
Rask's departure came just prior to Game 3 of the Bruins' Eastern Conference first-round series versus the Carolina Hurricanes. The former Vezina Trophy recipient said he has made peace with his decision and felt his teammates understood as well.
“No issue coming in here,” Rask said of his return to training camp. “We've been in touch throughout the summer and had discussions with whatever in life with teammates. There's no issues coming back.”
Rask, 33, posted a 28-8-6 record and led the NHL with a 2.12 goals-against average (minimum 20 games) last season. He was second in both save percentage (.929) and shutouts (five).
Rask is entering the final season of an eight-year, US$56-million contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
“I have no intention to play anywhere else than the Bruins,” Rask said Wednesday.
“So if I'm good enough to play one, two, three more years, then so be it. If not, then so be it. So that's where my head's at.”
Rask owns a 291-158-64 record with 50 shutouts, a 2.26 GAA and .922 save percentage in 536 career games (516 starts) with the Bruins.
He has been with the Bruins organization since June 2006 and made his NHL debut in 2007.
He was a first-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2005.