Brewin Flames Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Tuukka Rask announces retirement after 15 seasons with Bruins By Sean Leahy Feb 9, 2022, 6:00 PM EST Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images C Tuukka Rask has announced his retirement after a 560-game, 15-season NHL career with the Boston Bruins. The 35-year-old goaltender was attempting a comeback from off-season surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip and played four games before deciding to hang up his skates for good. In a letter posted on Twitter, Rask explained that his body was not responding how he wished following the surgery and that he could not get to the level of play that he used to be able to reach. “When I made the decision to have surgery on my hip last summer, I did so knowing that the road to recovery would be challenging,” said Rask in his statement. “I also knew it was something I would have to do if I wanted to give myself a chance to play my best hockey again. The rehab, the workouts, the practices — all of it was with the intention of getting back to where I needed to be to help my teammates win games and make another run at a Stanley Cup.” When he decided to have surgery, Rask was an unrestricted free agent. But he made it clear that if he was healthy enough to play again, he would only sign with the Bruins, otherwise he would retire. Knowing Rask would be out until at least early 2022, the Bruins signed Linus Ullmark to take on the No. 1 job in goal. Thank you, Tuukka. pic.twitter.com/SLCBvu7dKr — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 9, 2022 Rask made it back, signing with the Bruins on Jan. 11 and starting in net two days later. But the comeback did not go well. In four games Boston went 2-2-0 and Rask posted an .841 5-on-5 save percentage. On Monday, the team ruled him out for the remainder of this week with a lower-body injury. A 2005 first-round pick (No. 21 overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Rask was dealt to Boston a year later for Andrew Raycroft. He would spend the next few seasons in Finland and in the American Hockey League before taking on a regular role with the Bruins along with Tim Thomas. Rask finishes his NHL career with 308 wins, 52 shutouts, a Vezina Trophy, a William Jennings Trophy, a First Team NHL All-Star honor, one Stanley Cup ring, and bronze medals representing Finland at the 2006 IIHF World Championship and 2014 Winter Olympics. “Through all the ups and downs, I am so grateful for all the support this team and the people of Boston have given me,” said Rask. “I will miss everything that comes with representing the Boston Bruins. But now, I’m excited to spend more time with my family and friends who never stopped supporting my dream. Boston is special for so many reasons and will always be our adopted home. We look forward to remaining a part of this amazing community.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewin Flames Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 (edited) Tuukka Rask officially retires from Boston Bruins, walks away from 'the best sports city in the world' Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask has officially announced his retirement from the NHL. The longtime netminder released a lengthy statement on social media Wednesday, calling it a career after 15 seasons. The news comes one day after rumors began to swirl that Rask was considering hanging up his skates following a brief comeback attempt last month. The 34-year-old was an unrestricted free agent over the summer when he chose to undergo hip surgery meant to support an eventual return to game action. Rask was able to start skating again in November, and he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Boston on Jan. 11. He backstopped the Bruins to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in his season debut and didn't admit publicly to feeling any physical discomfort afterward. The grind of another NHL campaign quickly seemed to take its toll, though. Rask was pulled from his next start after allowing five goals on 12 shots to the Carolina Hurricanes but did secure another win over the Winnipeg Jets. The situation for Rask began deteriorating again from there, and he moved to a backup role behind Linus Ullmark before being removed from the lineup entirely prior to the NHL All-Star break. The Bruins hoped that, with some rest, Rask might still be up to the task of helping them through the second half. As Rask himself explained in Wednesday's release, it just wasn't meant to be. "Today is a day that I hoped would never come," Rask wrote. "But now that it's here, I feel I owe it to everyone to hear it from me. When I made the decision to have surgery on my hip last summer, I did so knowing that the road to recovery would be challenging. I also knew it was something I would have to do if I wanted to give myself a chance to play my best hockey again. The rehab, the workouts, the practices -- all of it was with the intention of getting back to where I needed to be to help my teammates win games and make another run at the Stanley Cup. Over these last few weeks, I've realized that my body is not responding the way it needs to for me to play at the level I expect of myself and that my teammates and Bruins fans deserve. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from the game of hockey." Originally drafted by Toronto 21st overall in the 2005 entry draft, Rask was traded to Boston before ever suiting up for the Leafs and made his NHL debut for the Bruins in November 2007. When he was headed for unrestricted free agency last July, Rask was clear that, once his health was addressed, he wouldn't consider signing anywhere else; it was Boston or bust. Rask now leaves the game as a Stanley Cup champion in 2011, a Vezina Trophy winner in 2014 and with a 306-163-66 mark in 560 career appearances. "While I am sad to say goodbye to the game I love, I am so very thankful to have shared these last 15 years with the greatest teammates and fans in the best sports city in the world," Rask added in his statement. "We have shared so many special memories over the years -- bringing the Cup back to Boston in 2011, our runs to the Final in 2013 and 2019, playing overseas in the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland and China, and of course the Winter Classics. I am also so thankful that I was able to represent Finland on the world stage and win a bronze medal in the 2014 Olympics. "While these experiences were all incredible, what I will remember most about all of them is the bond I had with my teammates, coaches and team staffs, the memories that we will always have, and the friendships that will last a lifetime. "Through all the ups and downs, I am so grateful for all the support this team and the people of Boston have given me. I will miss everything that comes with representing the Boston Bruins. But now, I am excited to spend more time with my family and friends who never stopped supporting my dream. Boston is special for so many reasons and will always be our adopted home. We look forward to remaining a part of this amazing community. "I especially want to thank the Jacobs' family, Cam Neely, Don Sweeney, my coaches, the equipment staff and the rest of the team support staff for all they have done for me throughout my time with the Bruins organization. I've never wanted to play for any other team. I'm so proud to have worn the Spoked-B for my entire career and wouldn't have it any other way." Jeremy Swayman, who began the season with the Bruins before being sent down to the American Hockey League when Rask was activated, will team up with Ullmark as the Bruins battle for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. Ullmark has 16 wins this season, and Swayman has eight. Edited February 10, 2022 by Brewin Flames Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewin Flames Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 I'll post my thoughts on this, as soon as my tears dry... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Sad to see but enjoy your life Tuukka you deserve it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Heck of a career. What's Justin Pogge up to? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewin Flames Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 The Boston Bruins Monday Morning QB's of the NHL world rip Tuukka online all the time for the failure to bring us to a cup, having been so close two times. In the those losses to the Hawks we had the lead and blew it late, and vs the blues he gave up quick ones and we could not get on the board in a game # 7. Tough losses to take and with a little better fortune he'd have to Cups as a starter, but such is life. Statisitaclly the best net minder the bruins have ever had, just never able to nail down the big one....gave us everything he had for 15 years. Now it's Swayman's turn, and we have to add some depth in the pipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 1 hour ago, flyercanuck said: Heck of a career. What's Justin Pogge up to? More like what is Andrew Raycroft up to these days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 3 hours ago, OccamsRazor said: More like what is Andrew Raycroft up to these days... The Leafs traded Rask when they decided Justin Pogge was the better netminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 14 minutes ago, flyercanuck said: The Leafs traded Rask when they decided Justin Pogge was the better netminder. Get out! The Leaves® would NEVER bungle something like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 13 minutes ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said: Get out! The Leaves® would NEVER bungle something like that! Oh they did....they did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Even us fans of other teams can really appreciate Tuukka's career, and were jealous at times of the B's for having such a solid goalie for such a long time. Happy retirement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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