Rask close to return with Bruins, signs with Providence
BOSTON — Goalkeeper Tuukka Rask is inching closer to a return to the Boston Bruins, signing a professional tryout agreement with AHL Providence on Thursday.
Rask, currently a free agent, has spent 14 seasons with the Bruins. He is the franchise leader in wins, but he hasn’t played in the NHL since undergoing offseason labrum surgery on his hip.
He has been working out at the Bruins’ training facility for more than two months and eyeing the resumption of his career, which includes two All-Star selections and winning the 2013-14 Vezina Trophy and 2019-20 Jennings Trophy. He also was the No. 2 goalie on Boston’s 2010-11 team that won the Stanley Cup.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said the 34-year-old Rask has been cleared to play and will start Friday when Providence hosts Lehigh Valley on Friday. It will be his first game action since June when he allowed four goals in a Game 6 loss to the New York Islanders in Boston’s secondround loss in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“I feel great,” Rask said Thursday during a video conference call with reporters. “The biggest issue for me was the catching of the joint and the pain that created. So that all is gone. . I don’t have to think about it locking up on me again and creating that pain, so I feel great.”
He said the pain in the hip lingered throughout last season.
“It’s just one of those wear and tear situations that I think when you hit enough miles your body just starts to break up on you,” Rask said.
Rask said he expects to play two games in Providence before working out a contract to return to the Bruins. He doesn’t expect it to be difficult to hammer out a deal.
“The biggest point for me was if I feel great I want to try to come back,” he said. “The only thing I want to do at this point is try to help out. I’m not looking for a big contract like I’ve said before. I just want to come and help out the guys and do my part that way.”
General manager Don Sweeney said in November there was a “general understanding” for Rask to eventually return to the team, but that he had to make a decision on his health. That has now happened.
“We have a plan in place. It shouldn’t be an issue,” Rask said. “I plan on playing tomorrow here and then see about Sunday and we’ll move forward next week I should be with the big guys.”
Boston (17-10-2, 36 points) is currently eighth in the East, a point ahead of Detroit (16-15-3, 35 points) for the conference’s final wild card.
The Bruins have been mostly solid at goaltender this season with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Boston’s 75 goals allowed are the third-fewest in the league, and its 2.59 goalsagainst average ranks sixth.
Cassidy said he spoke with Ullmark and Swayman in October about the possibility of Rask making a return. Rask said he hasn’t had in-depth discussions with them but that both have been gracious about sharing ice time with him during his rehab.