Rask Prepares for Payday
While Tuukka Rask’s season ultimately ended in disappointment, the Finnish goaltender will be able to take solace in the fact that this summer will see him make a serious amount of money.
The goaltender signed a one-year deal at the start of this shortened season, challenged by the management to prove himself as the No.1 goalie and earn a new contract. And, boy, did he do that.
With Rask’s contract at the Boston Bruins now expired, the 26-year old has reportedly quoted fellow goalie, Carey Price’s $39 million contract with the Montreal Canadians as “the starting point for negotiations”, with Rask well aware of how strong a position he finds himself in this summer.
If Rask manages to secure the kind of deal he is looking for with the Bruins, it would make him the only player on the team to receive more than Zdeno Chara’s $6.9 million a season, something that could have the ability to cause fractions in this Bruins squad.
Despite a wobbly final three games of the season in the Stanley Cup Finals, Rask has endeared himself to fans betting on NHL, by proving that he one of the NHL’s most talented and consistent goalies, outplaying James Reimer, Henrik Lundqvist, and Tomas Vokoun in the play-offs.
He finished in the top five in goals against average (2.00) and save percentage (.929) during the regular season.
The Bruins, the favourites for next season’s Stanley Cup in the NHL betting odds, will know that Rask has the ability to lead a team into more Finals if he stays; that may be the deciding factor in them breaking the bank in order to keep the Finnish star in Boston now he is a free agent.
Losing Rask would give the Bruins management an almost impossible task of trying to find a capable replacement.