Tuukka Rask Reveals Reason For Leaving Bruins

Tuukka Rask shocked the hockey world on Saturday morning when he opted out of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Speculation ran rampant as people looked for an answer. On Tuesday, Rask gave the answer to WEEI’s Greg Hill. Hill discussed it on his show

“He is concerned right now with not being a further distraction for his team, which is in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs,” Hill said on Tuesday. “He would prefer not to be the story and be something those guys are asked about repeatedly as they try to win a Stanley Cup.

“I can tell you that he got a phone call in the bubble from his wife. Because there was a medical emergency with their daughter. Basically the kind of situation where I believe Tuukka Rask did what every parent would do and was obviously very concerned. It was suggested they seek medical help. Without revealing what that was, because I think I probably should leave that to him. He did tell me. As a father of two kids, I would be panicked and alarmed upon hearing that about a young kid.”

Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy hinted at this on Monday. Murphy wrote the following two days ago.

A source close to the situation has told Boston Hockey Now that if Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask decides to ever reveal the reasons why he decided to opt-out of the NHL bubble and the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs hours before Game 3 Saturday, ‘There will be lots of crow eating’.

A RETURN TO ACTION?

Although Rask has opted out, he can return to the Toronto bubble. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy addressed that on Sunday.

“Should circumstances change there where he thinks he can come back to the club, I think we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. See what it involves obviously,” Cassidy told reporters after Sunday’s skate. “As you said, the NHL is okay with it, that’s how we’d handle that.”

Rask has not spoken since leaving the Toronto bubble.