Bruins Goalie Tuukka Rask Pondering Retirement After Next Season

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask said that he has contemplated retiring once his eight-year contract that carries a $7 million cap hit and runs out after next season. 

“I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play,” Rask, 33, told Glove reporter Matt Porter in late February exclusive interview. “We’ll see. Always a possibility.”

Rask said that if he retired from the NHL that he would be retiring from all of professional hockey as well and not play back in his native Finland. As for why he’s having retirement thoughts, Rask cited family and the wear and tear the schedule takes on life at home.

“Just be home,” Rask said. “The wear and tear of the travel with two, almost three kids now, makes you think. I love to do it. But it’s tough.”

This isn’t the first time Rask has cited the mental and emotional stress the game takes on him. He took a personal leave of absence from the Bruins and the NHL back in November 2018.

When the NHL season paused on March 12, Rask was 26-8-6 with a league-best 2.12 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. He posted a 36-save shutout in the Bruins’ 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers March 10, their final game before the season paused due to Coronavirus. Rask is 291-158-64 in 536 NHL games.