Rask practices as Bruins emergency goalie with Ullmark sick
Free agent still rehabilitating from July hip surgery
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NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Rask, a free agent, has been rehabilitating from surgery he had in late July to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. He has been skating at Boston's practice facility since last month and has done some sessions with Bruins goalie coach Bob Essensa.
This was the first time Rask has taken part in an organized practice.
"It was good to see him," assistant coach Joe Sacco said. "Brought a little excitement to the boys out there. Just by watching him, he looked good. I think he had some fun and I know the guys were excited to see him out there too."
Ullmark was one of five players to miss practice because of illness. Forwards Tomas Nosek and Charlie Coyle, and defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk also were sick, though Coyle skated on his own before practice.
Captain Patrice Bergeron had a maintenance day after having his broken nose treated.
There remains no timeline for Rask to play again and no indication whether the 34-year-old might be ready to consider a return to the NHL. Rask has said if he comes back, he would like it to be for the Bruins, the only team for which he has played during his 14-season NHL career.
The Bruins (12-8-1) have expressed an interest in having Rask return. General Manager Don Sweeney voiced concern with the lack of Stanley Cup Playoff experience possessed by rookie Jeremy Swayman and Ullmark, who signed a four-year, $20 million contract ($5 million average annual value) as a free agent July 28.
"We've got a long way to go [before the playoffs] and neither one has played in the playoffs to this point to my recollection," Sweeney said Nov. 29. "So we've got a lot of ground to cover. They've been OK. I think both of them have really, really strong pockets of games and other times where they haven't played quite as well as they would like in some situations. We have higher expectations for everybody in that sense. So I don't think Linus and Jeremy would say it any differently than I am.
"We've got some growing pains associated with that position. I would say it's a little more of inconsistency than anything. But we're still in a good place with where our goaltending and our depth is overall. If we have to address something, we will."
Swayman is 7-4-1 with a 2.26 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 12 games. Ullmark is 5-4-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .911 save percentage in nine games.
Swayman played one playoff game last season, replacing Rask in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Second Round against the New York Islanders. Ullmark has never been to the postseason during his seven NHL seasons.
The Bruins have not had contract discussions with Rask, but that there is an understanding that the Bruins are interested.
"Tuukka has to make a decision on his health first and foremost and when he's able to do that officially and declare himself, that this is what he wants to do and play, then we'll find a common ground," Sweeney said. "We have not hidden from that fact that if he indeed is healthy and wants to play that he's likely to be a part of our group."
Rask is the Bruins' all-time leader in wins (306) and games played by a goalie (560), and is second in shutouts (52), behind Tiny Thompson (74). Rask is 306-163-66 with a 2.27 GAA and .921 save percentage, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2013, when they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games, and in 2019, when they lost to the St. Louis Blues in seven games.
He was the backup to Tim Thomas when the bruins won the Cup in 2011.
"I have been so lucky to be part of only one team in the NHL," Rask said in August. "For me, it's about that pride of playing for one team and one team only. I have no reason to chase the money anymore and go somewhere else. It's going to be one of those things where the Bruins are my home, Boston is my home. I've always wanted to play here, wanted to stay here. So the money won't be an issue. We had a conversation with [Sweeney] and I will be a cheap goalie for them.
"I would say I'm not looking for a $7 million contract anymore. I just like to help the team out. I feel like I'm a veteran goalie and there are some young guys coming in, so whatever I can do to help the guys out I will do it and end my career as a Bruin."
