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Tuukka Rask

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Tuukka Rask
Rask during his time with the Bruins on 19 November 2013
Born (1987-03-10) 10 March 1987 (age 39)
Savonlinna, Finland
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Ilves
Boston Bruins
HC Plzeň
National team  Finland
NHL draft 21st overall, 2005
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2004–2022

Tuukka Mikael Rask (born 10 March 1987) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played parts of 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played his entire NHL career for the Boston Bruins. Outside of the NHL, Rask played for Ilves of the SM-liiga and HC Škoda Plzeň of Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Rask is a one-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Bruins in 2011. He was also the winner of the Vezina Trophy in 2014 and the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2020. He is a two-time All-Star, being named one in 2017 and 2020. Internationally, Rask played for Finland and won a bronze medal with them in 2014.

Career

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Before playing in the NHL, Rask played parts of three seasons with Ilves of the SM-liiga.

He was drafted 21st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2005 NHL entry draft. He never played a game with the team. On 24 June 2006, the Maple Leafs traded the rights to Tuukka Rask to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Andrew Raycroft.[1] This trade is widely regarded as one of the worst trades in Maple Leafs history as Rask became a very successful goaltender in the NHL and Raycroft was winding down in his career and did not find the same success he had in previous years. The Bruins had also intended to release Raycroft from his contract which could have let the Maple Leafs acquire him without having to trade Rask.[2][3]

On 5 May 2007, Rask signed a multi-year entry-level contract to join the Bruins.[4] He was immediately sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Providence Bruins. On 20 November 2007, Boston called him up and Rask made his NHL debut, stopping 30 of 32 shots in a 4–2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[5] On 31 January 2009, Rask stopped all 35 shots he faced in a 1–0 win against the New York Rangers to record his first NHL shutout.[6] On 5 November, Rask signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract to stay with the Bruins.[7] During that season, Rask took over for Manny Fernandez as the backup goaltender for Tim Thomas.[8] The NHL named him as the Third Star of the Week for the week of April 5, 2010.[9] He helped the Bruins when they went on a run in the playoffs. They defeated the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. They went on to defeat the Vancouver Canucks four games to three in the Final to win the Stanley Cup.[10] Rask became only the second Finnish goaltender to have his name engraved onto the Cup.[11]

On 1 July 2012, Rask signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract to stay with the Bruins.[12] He finished the 2013–14 season by posting a 36–15–6 record with a 2.04 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. After the NHL entered into a lockout, Rask headed overseas after signing a contract to player for HC Škoda Plzeň of Czech Extraliga (ELH). Hev played 17 regular seasons with the team before returning to the Bruins when the lockout ended.[13] He helped the Bruins reach the Finals which they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks four games to two.[14] On June 24, 2014, he was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender in the NHL that season.[15] On February 2, 2015, the NHL named Rask the Third Star of the Month.[16] Rask shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Jaroslav Halak for the 2019–20 season.[17] On January 11, 2022, Rask signed a one-year contract to stay with the Bruins.[18]

On February 9, 2022, Rask announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey.[19]

Personal life

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Rask's younger brother Joonas was also a professional ice hockey player and played two games in the NHL with the Nashville Predators.[20]

References

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  1. ↑ "Bruins trade Raycroft to Leafs for goaltending prospect". ESPN. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Trading Tuukka Rask could be worst Leafs deal ever". Toronto Sun. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Fan Fuel: Maple Leafs trading Tuukka Rask was worse than Phil Kessel deal". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Transactions". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 30, 2026. Bruins: Finnish goalie Tuukka Rask signed.
  5. ↑ "N.H.L. Roundup; Thornton Powers The Bruins". The Hockey News. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Bruins' Rask stops 35 shots, earns first NHL shutout". The Everett Herald. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Rask Signed to Contract Extension". Boston Bruins. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ↑ "Bruin backup shuts down Rangers". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Halak, Saku Koivu, Rask named 'Three Stars'". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ↑ "2011 Stanley Cup Final". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Cup Or No Cup, Tuukka Rask Was Great". CBS News. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Kelly, Rask Remain in Black & Gold; Bruins Sign Khokhlachev". Boston Bruins. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ "Bruins eager to get back to work". ESPN. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Blackhawks' late rally caps epic Final with Bruins". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Bruins Announce 2014 NHL Award Winners & Krug Makes 2014 NHL All-Rookie Team". Boston Bruins. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ↑ "Ovechkin, Tavares, Rask named 'Stars' for January". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ↑ "Bruins win Jennings Trophy for allowing fewest goals". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Bruins Sign Tuukka Rask To One-Year Contract". Boston Bruins. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ "A Statement from Tuukka Rask". Boston Bruins. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Rask's younger brother leaves Preds, returns to Finland". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 30, 2026.

Other websites

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