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BHN Daily: Regardless Of Swayman, Boston Bruins Should Extend Rask

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Boston Bruins

Should the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs determine goalie Tuukka Rask’s future with the Boston Bruins?

In the eyes of this veteran puck scribe, it shouldn’t. Based on all Rask and the Boston Bruins have been through together, if Rask is ok with rookie sensation Jeremy Swayman taking over as the starter next season and a pay cut, then he needs to be back for another season in Black and Gold. 

The winningest goalie in Boston Bruins history is set to embark on his eighth quest for the Stanley Cup as the Bruins’ starting goalie and there’s a very real chance that this could be his last shot at silencing the haters and finally winning that elusive Cup as a starter. Rask, as well as currently the former backup, Jaro Halak, are set to become unrestricted free agents in July and on Friday, Boston Bruins President Cam Neely said that there will be a decision to make on Rask whenever the Bruins’ playoff run concludes.

“Don’s talked to [Rask’s] agent,” Neely said while as a guest on the Toucher & Rich Show on 98.5 the Sports Hub on Friday morning. “We’ve kind of just left it alone a little bit as the season went. Tuukka has always said this is the only place he wants to play. We do have some decisions to make in the offseason and Tuukka’s one of them.

If Rask’s decision is to play another season with the Bruins, then why wouldn’t Neely, General manager Don Sweeney and the Bruins want the same thing regardless of how the playoffs go? The Tuukka haters can spew their hate all they want but even Swayman were to come in at some point in the playoffs and lead the Boston Bruins to their seventh Stanley Cup, would it not behoove the Bruins to keep a future hall of famer, familiar with Swayman and the team around as the backup if he was willing to accept that role? 

If Rask, unlike his former captain and opponent in the first round, Zdeno Chara, would be fine with a decreased role and paycheck, having him around for Swayman’s first NHL season as a starter can only help and won’t leave a bitter taste for all in what has been a hall of fame career between the pipes for Rask.  

 

Now onto the rest of your BHN Daily Links:

 

My partner-in-crime Joe Haggerty says the Boston Bruins are right where they need and want to be heading into the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Boston Hockey Now)

How does Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy start the first day of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

 

 

As expected, Boston bruins winger Ondrej Kase will not be available for Game 1 against the Washington Capitals. (Boston Hockey Now)

Boston Bruins fans, if you want to stay on top of Caps news throughout the series, I highly suggest you follow Samantha Pell of the Washington Post! Here, Samantha takes a look at the five biggest topics surrounding the Capitals as the playoffs begin. (Washington Post)

Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now gives his Penguins and Stanley Cup PLayoffs predictions. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Christian Arnold of NYI Hockey Now looks at the other side of the Penguins-Islanders series. (NYI Hockey Now)

Colleague George Richards goes one-on-one with Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito as the Panthers get set to host their first-ever Stanley Cup Playoffs series. (Florida Hockey Now)

Old friend and former Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic was named the Calgary Flames candidate for the Masterton Trophy and seeing the person Milan has become on and off the ice made this scribe who covered him in his early years pretty proud! (TSN)

 

Finally, every time I hear this I think Boston Bruins and the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

 

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