Report: Rask, Bruins Agree To One-Year, $3.5 Million Deal
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins have agreed to a one-year contract extension with goalie Tuukka Rask, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
The deal will pay Rask $3.5 million, according to the report.
Earlier on Thursday, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported the two sides were close.
Rask, 25, was set to become a restricted free agent. With Tim Thomas announcing earlier this offseason that he does not plan on playing hockey next season, signing Rask was likely atop the to-do list of general manager Peter Chiarelli this summer.
However, it likely became challenging for the sides to agree on a long-term deal. Ondrej Pavelec signed a five-year, $19.5 million contract this week, which carries a $3.9 million cap hit. Considering Rask's career save percentage is .926 and his goals-against average is 2.20, while Pavelec's posted career numbers of .907 and 2.99, the market certainly favored Rask heading into these negotiations. Rask, however, has not yet proven he can stay healthy as a starting netminder for a full season. His performance this year will go a long way in determining what next year's contract looks like.
Behind Rask, the Bruins have Anton Khudobin, who's played in just seven NHL games in his career.
As a starter for much of the 2009-10 season, Rask flourished, posting a 22-12-5 record with a league-leading 1.97 GAA and .931 save percentage. Thomas seized the starter's role back the following year when he won the Vezina Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy while leading the Bruins to a Stanley Cup. Rask has started 49 games in the past two years, posting a 22-22-5 record. He missed the last two months of the season after suffering a groin injury in early March.
