Yesterday, WEEI held its annual Jimmy Fund on-air telethon fundraiser. As per usual, it was packed with Boston athletes, current and former. One athlete that was on the Greg Hill Show, the early drive time show, was Tuukka Rask. Tuukka has a relationship with Greg Hill having talked to him about his daughter’s emergency situation that caused him to leave the bubble last summer. So, it’s no surprise that Tuukka would want to chat about his future with the Bruins on his show.
Tuukka reiterated his desire to play for the Bruins. Just as he did during breakup day. Except this time he mentioned that he could play for cheap.
Tuukka Rask jokes he will play for 250k and free Bud Light.
Professional athletes, they're just like us.
— Logan Mullen (@ByLoganMullen) August 25, 2021
Here to help with the Bud Light clause. Have your people call our people @tuukkarask @NHLBruins. https://t.co/NvQaUYTF9f
— Bud Light (@budlight) August 25, 2021
At this point it’s Boston or bust. He doesn’t want to go anywhere else and it’s not about the money.
Tuukka Rask on winning with Bruins core:
“We’ve played our entire careers together and I feel like it would be a shame to go somewhere and try and chase something dollar-wise or trophy-wise when you have a chance to finish your career with the same group you started with.”
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) August 26, 2021
If you remember, back in 2012 when he signed his one-year prove it deal for $3.5M to show that he was ready to take over the starting job from the Tim Thomas, who decided to sit out the 2012-13 season he ended up leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final. That led to a major payday for him: an 8-year, $56M deal. So, he’s made a bunch of money. Now he wants to come back and do what he couldn’t do in that time: win the Cup. This year might be the last real shot that the team has.
Tuukka also updated his health status. After having surgery on his (hip) labrum in late July, he believes he will be ready to go around Christmas or the first week of January. He’s 2 or 3 weeks from working out after a perfect surgery. Basically, he’s hoping that he’ll sign a contract while going through rehab. And he’ll be cheap, especially if Bud Light holds their end of the deal.
Currently, the Bruins only have 45 of 50 contracts but a full roster of 23 at the NHL level with about $1,089,326 in cap space. Only 1 of the 23 is a goaltender (Ullmark). Don Sweeney will have to do some juggling depending on what happens during training camp. But, there will be plenty of room for Tuukka when the time comes.
Morning all. Plugging through the last day of the mega heat.
Okay, sorry I haven’t mastered posting a picture here yet as Jo took a fine picture of a woman with a goat on a leash in the Bennington, VT Wal-Mart. The goat was wearing a diaper and a vest that said ” do not touch, goat in training”.That is all
Training for what, I wonder …
A seeing-eye goat? An emotional support goat?
NASA.
Astrogoat in training!!
You know you’ve lived in Vermont too long when you find this all completely normal!
I had a rhinoceros once.. People kept asking “does your dog bite?” …. No, but he’ll ram the hell out of you!
Morning all,
Positive news about Tuukka, although he might’ve asked for a decent beer! I wonder where Swayman figures in Sweenius’s plan. Will he spend the first part of the season as a strict backup to Ullmark or will it be a tandem kinda thing?
Leah’s headache – her one covid symptom – has gone away. She still has to isolate until Monday, but I’ll give her a test tomorrow and if it comes up negative I might risk a hug. It has been a week!
Glad to hear Leah is doing as well as possible, all things considered! Fingers crossed for a negative test and lots of much needed hugs!
Yes, this!
Good luck with the test. Did you get both jabs already or just one?
Yes, I’m doubly Pfizered, which means I’m legally allowed to leave the house (while living with a positive case, as long as I’m negative). Assuming I’m legally allowed to leave an 11-year-old home alone …
Good morning!
Tuukka!!! How does anyone not love this guy? Yeah, I’d be happy to go forward with a healthy Tuukka. That means competition. Healthy competition is great. Goaltending, check… D corps… depth still a worry… Top six… we’ll see, but I’m optimistic.. Bottom six… good to go
Back to grout today. Getting close to shower. Bathing in river still an option, especially today!!
Be careful bathing in the river – you never know who’s watching!
I love that they snuck up to it so slowly that it didn’t react until one of them got handsy.
I tried fishing. Fish were jumping within a couple feet of me but no bites… Alright, I’m coming in after you!
Am curious as to the fate of John Moore. Last I heard he was getting a torn labrum surgically repaired. I’d been so used to him not playing that I assumed he was on the Nate Horton retirement track. Now it occurs to me – is he expected to come back? That’s a $2.75M cap hit once he comes off LTIR (so it seems like the team is planning on him staying out?)
That 2nd line is a big question mark. Not sure why the Coyle line wasn’t more effective last year. I am expecting more of the same. Less Ritchie, more DeBrusk, but similar.
Maybe when Charlie starts playing with a GOAT (-Taylor Hall-) he’ll score more.
A GOAT in training?
That sounds exciting!