| Tuukka Rask | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Rask with theBoston Bruins in October 2013 | |||
| Born | (1987-03-10)10 March 1987 (age 38) Savonlinna, Finland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2.5 in (189 cm) | ||
| Weight | 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Ilves Boston Bruins HC Plzeň | ||
| National team |  Finland | ||
| NHL draft | 21st overall,2005 Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 2004–2022 | ||
Tuukka Mikael Rask (born 10 March 1987) is aFinnish former professionalice hockeygoaltender. Rask was drafted 21st overall in the2005 NHL Entry Draft by theToronto Maple Leafs before being traded to theBoston Bruins in 2006, where he played his entire 15 seasonNHL career. Rask was consistently successful during his tenure with the Bruins. After winning theStanley Cup as the backup with the Bruins in 2011, he led the Bruins to theStanley Cup Finals on two occasions in2013 and2019. He also won theVezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender during the2013–14 season, and was a finalist for the 2019–20 award. He also won theWilliam M. Jennings Trophy along with goaltenderJaroslav Halák in the2019–20 season. Rask is also a two-timeNHL All-Star team member. Internationally, he ledteam Finland to a bronze medal overteam USA at the2006 World Juniors, where he was also awarded the honor of Best Goaltender. He led them to another bronze medal against the United States at the2014 Winter Olympics. Tuukka is the older brother ofJoonas Rask, who plays professionally as aforward withLuleå HF in the SHL.[1]
Rask holds the Boston Bruins record for regular season games played (564) and wins (308), as well as the playoff record for games played (104) and wins (57). Among goaltenders with at least 250 games played, Rask is fourth insave percentage all-time (0.92103),[2] third ingoals against average (GAA) among goaltenders in the modern era (2.28),[3] and eighteenth in goals saved above average (GSAA) all time (149.934).[4] In the playoffs (min 15 games), Rask is eleventh in save percentage (0.92517) and sixteenth in GAA (2.22).[5] Rask also holds the NHL record for most consecutive playoff games above the 0.900 save percentage mark, eclipsing 23 games during the2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is the only goaltender in modern NHL history to never lose aconference finals game while having played at least two series, posting an 8–0 record with 3 shutouts, a GAA of 0.82, and a save percentage of 0.972 in those Conference Finals games. He finished his career 3-3 in game 7s.[6]
Rask was considered to be a true hybrid goaltender known for his economy of motion and was known for playing a very positionally sound game, where he would absorb the puck into his chest rather than reaching for it with his hands. He employed a narrowbutterfly and he stayed on his skates to make high saves, rather than dropping to his knees. His style incorporates a low and wide stance, a unique shin-lock RVH positioning, and effective rebound control. The shin-lock RVH (reverse vertical-horizontal), which was a staple in his game during his early seasons as well as later in his career[7] eventually caused him hip issues and ultimately ended his career after an attempted comeback in 2022.[8]
Rask started his career in thejunior teams of his hometown clubSaPKo inSavonlinna, Finland. He then played in 26 games for theTampere-basedIlves's junior team in theSM-sarja. Hisgoals against average (GAA) was 1.86 with two shutouts and a .935save percentage. Rask played started as the primary goaltender for the Ilves senior team in the Finnish top-flightSM-liiga in 2004. He was the top-ranked European goaltender for the2005 NHL Entry Draft.
In the midst of his play with Ilves, theToronto Maple Leafs drafted Rask in the first round, 21st overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. However, before playing a regular season game for Toronto, he was traded to theBoston Bruins in exchange for formerCalder Memorial Trophy-winning goaltenderAndrew Raycroft. Toronto management instead chose to keep goaltenderJustin Pogge, who had just won agold medal withTeam Canada at theWorld Junior Championships. Pogge would go on to play only seven games in the NHL, finishing his NHL career with a single win.[9] It was later revealed the Bruins intended to release Raycroft, which would have made him available to Toronto without having to give up Rask.[10]
In hindsight, the trade is widely considered to be one of the worst trades in Maple Leafs franchise history. Rask would experience many seasons of success with the Bruins,[11] but Raycroft would play only two seasons for Toronto, recording disappointing statistics.[12]
Rask would play a final season in Finland with Ilves in2006–07. On 5 May 2007, Rask signed a three-year contract with the Boston Bruins and was in attendance to observe theProvidence Bruins' 2006–07 playoff run for theAmerican Hockey League (AHL)'sCalder Cup championship.[13][14] The Providence team did not make it past the second round of the Calder Cup against theManchester Monarchs, but nonetheless Rask practiced with the Providence team.
On 5 November 2007, Rask was called up to the Boston Bruins for the first time. Just two weeks later, on 20 November, he recorded his first NHL win, a 4–2 victory on the road against his former team, theToronto Maple Leafs.
On 3 October 2008, the Bruins reassigned Rask to Providence. Rask had the best save percentage (.952) among the goalies in pre-season play, followed by teammatesManny Fernandez (.875),Tim Thomas (.869) andKevin Regan (.857). Despite this, the team opted to go with the two veteran goaltenders, Thomas and Fernandez, for the2008–09 season. With nagging back spasms keeping Fernandez from play shortly after theAll-Star Game break, Rask was once again called up to serve as a second goaltender, and on 31 January 2009, he played his first (and only) game with the Bruins in the2008–09 season, and earned his first ever NHL shutout, a 1–0 home effort against theNew York Rangers, withMarc Savard scoring the only Bruins goal.[15]
Not long after the beginning of the2009–10 season, Rask, who had been named the backup goaltender to Thomas, signed a two-year extension to his contract with the Bruins on 5 November that kept him under contract through to the 2011–12 season.[16]In the 2009–10 regular season, Rask was the only goaltender in the NHL with a GAA of less than 2.00 and the only goaltender with a save percentage over .930,[17][18] becoming the only qualifying rookie in NHL history to lead the league with a sub-2.00 GAA while also leading the league in save percentage.[19] Rask finished 4th in voting for theCalder Trophy.[20]
In the2010–11 season,Tim Thomas returned to top form, effectively relegating Rask once again to the backup role. With the Bruinswinning the Stanley Cup in 2011 against thePresidents' Trophy-winningVancouver Canucks, Rask became only the second Finnish goaltender to do so, afterAntti Niemi of theSan Jose Sharks accomplished the featthe previous year while Niemi was with theChicago Blackhawks. However, unlike Niemi who won the cup as a starter, Rask did not play a single minute during the Bruins' cup run.[21][22] Instead, Thomas would play every game and eventually win theConn Smythe as the playoff MVP after posting a 1.98 GAA and leading the league with a .940 save percentage during that year's playoffs. Thomas surrendered only eight goals in the seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Canucks.[23]
_during_a_February_22%2c_2012_away_game_against_the_St._Louis_Blues_at_the_Scottrade_Center_in_St._Louis_(6832101240)_(2).jpg)
On 28 June 2012, Rask re-signed with the Bruins to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Prior to the declaration of the2012–13 lockout, Rask was named as the starting goaltender for the Bruins, replacing Tim Thomas, who would eventually be traded to theNew York Islanders on 7 February 2013.[24] During the lockout, which ended on 6 January 2013, Rask played forHC Plzeň, which won theCzech Extraliga that year. After the NHL resumed play, Rask led the Bruins to their second Stanley Cup finals in three seasons in the 2013 playoffs. In the third round of the playoffs against the top-seededPittsburgh Penguins, Rask faced 136 shots in four games played, allowing two goals while making 134 saves for a 0.50 GAA and a .985 save percentage. In theStanley Cup Finals, the Bruins were defeated in six games by the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks, as Rask registered a .932 save percentage.[25]
On 10 July 2013, the Bruins re-signed Rask to an eight-year, $56 million contract. Following the conclusion of the2013–14 season, Rask was awarded the NHL'sVezina Trophy, awarded to the "goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position". He posted a 36–15–6 record, highlighted by a career-best ten-game points-won streak from 20 to 30 March, going 9–0–1, as the Bruins captured their first Presidents' Trophy since 1990 and led theEastern Conference in team defence (2.08 goals allowed per game).[26]
Early in the2016–17 season, Rask sustained a groin injury[27] that somewhat hampered his abilities much of the season following a successful October campaign, starting the 2016–17 season with 12 wins and a .938 save percentage in 17 games. He was likely used more often than usual, with the Bruins suffering from "backup goaltender" challenges early in the season, but not enough of a hindrance to help lead the Bruins to the2017 playoffs, the Bruins' first playoff appearance in three seasons after narrowly missing the playoffs the previous two seasons. Following a six-game quarterfinal series with the Bruins losing to theOttawa Senators four games to two, Rask successfully underwent groin surgery on 9 May 2017.[28] In mid-August, Rask said he expected to be ready for the Bruins' training camp for the2017–18 season.[29]
In the 2017–18 season, from 26 November 2017 to 10 February 2018, Rask had a career-high 21-game point streak.[30] Rask and the Bruins ended up finishing the season with 50 wins and 112 points, their best season since their 2013–14 Presidents' Trophy-winning season.[31] He played only 54 games, his lowest since that same 2013–14 season, posting a 34–14–5 record with a 2.36 GAA and a .917 save percentage. In the2018 playoffs, the Bruins were defeated in the second round in five games by the top-seededTampa Bay Lightning, with Rask playing 12 games total in the playoffs and posting a 2.88 GAA and .903 save percentage, his lowest since his first postseason in 2010.
On 1 January 2019, during the2019 NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks, Rask set a new record for games played by a Bruins goaltender with his 469th game, surpassingTiny Thompson's record set in the1938–39 season.[32] However, Rask was later placed on injured reserve by the Bruins on 28 January after sustaining a concussion. At the time of his injury, Rask had a 14–8–3 record in 25 starts.[33] Rask returned to the Bruins lineup on 31 January, in a 3–2 overtime loss to thePhiladelphia Flyers. It was his first start in a game since 19 January.[34] On 3 February against theWashington Capitals, Rask recorded a shutout to become the career leader for wins by a goaltender in Bruins history, again surpassing Tiny Thompson.[35]Rask helped the Bruins to the2019 Stanley Cup Finals, though they ultimately lost in seven games to theSt. Louis Blues, one win short from a second Stanley Cup. Rask recorded a 15–9 record with a 2.02 goals against average and a .934 save percentage during the2019 playoffs.
Rask played his 500th game in the NHL on 22 October 2019, a 4–2 Bruins victory over theToronto Maple Leafs.[36] On 10 March 2020, his 33rd birthday, Rask recorded the 50th shutout of his career, against thePhiladelphia Flyers.[37] Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic cancelling the last three weeks of the 2019–20 season and when the NHL announced its return-to-play plan for the playoffs, Rask would automatically win theWilliam M. Jennings Trophy along with Jaroslav Halak and the Bruins would win thePresidents' Trophy as the regular season champions. During the NHL's Return to Play, Rask played five games in the "bubble" inToronto in which teams were quarantined, including two games against theCarolina Hurricanes in the2020 playoffs. On 15 August 2020, during the , Rask opted to leave the playoffs, exit the bubble, and return to his family[38] After the Bruins elimination from the playoffs by the eventual Stanley Cup championTampa Bay Lightning, he revealed that the reason he left was his daughter going through an undisclosed medical emergency.[39]
On 15 April 2021, Rask would return from an upper-body injury, where he recorded his300th NHL win against theNew York Islanders. He became the 37th goaltender and the fourth Finnish goaltender to achieve the milestone.[40] Rask also became the fifth-fastest player to reach the milestone, which he achieved in his 552nd NHL game, and also became the first Bruins goaltender to reach the mark.[41] On 21 May, Rask passedGerry Cheevers for the most postseason wins by a goalie in Bruins history, after Rask won his 54th postseason game against theWashington Capitals in the2021 playoffs.[42] Followingthe game 6 exit of the Bruins from the playoffs in the second round against the New York Islanders, Rask revealed he had been dealing with an early-season injury to anacetabular labrum in one of his hips, necessitating surgery during the summer and a likely return to play for the team.[43] Even with his upcoming free-agency resulting in UFA status by the upcoming season, Rask indicated he had no plans to play as a goaltender for any other team but the Bruins, going forward.[44]
On 6 January 2022, Rask signed an AHL tryout contract with theProvidence Bruins of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL), with the intention to rehab from surgery before returning to Boston.[45] However, the games he was slated to start in were postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak among theLehigh Valley Phantoms, who were then unable to travel to Providence for the weekend's contests. Despite missing those rehab starts, Rask signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins on 11 January, worth $1 million.[46] In his return to the Bruins, Rask started just four games in the2021–22 season before going back on the injured list. On 9 February, Rask announced his retirement from ice hockey.[47]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Finland | ||
| Men'sice hockey | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 2014 Sochi | |
| World Junior Hockey Championships | ||
| 2006 Canada | |
Rask played in four of Finland's six games en route to the bronze medal at the2014 Winter Olympics,[48] includinga 3–1 defeat of host nation Russia in the quarter-finals,[49] and a shut-out of the United States in the bronze medal game.[50] He was unable to play in the semifinal against Sweden due to flu, which Sweden took advantage of by defeating Finland 2–1.
On 2 March 2016, it was revealed that Rask was to be the starting goaltender for Finland in the2016 World Cup of Hockey, ahead ofPekka Rinne. Rask played in two out of three tournament games and in one out of three pre-tournament games.[51]
.jpg)
In 2022 Rask married his longtime girlfriend Jasmiina Nikkila, their wedding took place inItaly.[52] The couple have 3 children together.[53]
Following his retirement Rask has remained a member of the Bruins organization and has served as a corporate ambassador since 2022.[54] He has also participated in benefit games for the Bruins alumni organization.[55]
An avid golfer Rask has also taken part in many celebrity golf tournaments in the New England area.[56]
During the2024-25 season Rask alongsideAndrew Raycroft, andPatrice Bergeron startedUnobstructed Views a Bruins themed alternate live telecast series which airs onNESN. In 2025 Rask would win aRegional Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Interview/Discussion.[57]
In February 2015, a recently discovered species of wasp in Kenya was namedThaumatodryinus tuukkaraski as a direct reference to Rask. The reasoning given by the authors was, "This species is named after the acrobatic goaltender for the Finnish National ice hockey team and the Boston Bruins, whose glove hand is as tenacious as the raptorial fore tarsus of this dryinid species."[58][59]
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2004–05 | Ilves | SM-l | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 202 | 15 | 0 | 4.46 | .875 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Ilves | SM-l | 30 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 1,724 | 60 | 2 | 2.09 | .926 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 180 | 7 | 0 | 2.33 | .924 | ||
| 2006–07 | Ilves | SM-l | 49 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 2,872 | 114 | 3 | 2.38 | .928 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 397 | 20 | 0 | 3.02 | .924 | ||
| 2007–08 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 45 | 27 | 13 | 2 | 2,570 | 100 | 1 | 2.33 | .905 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 605 | 22 | 2 | 2.18 | .908 | ||
| 2007–08 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 184 | 10 | 0 | 3.25 | .886 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 57 | 33 | 20 | 4 | 3,340 | 139 | 4 | 2.50 | .915 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 977 | 36 | 0 | 2.21 | .930 | ||
| 2008–09 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 45 | 22 | 12 | 5 | 2,562 | 84 | 5 | 1.97 | .931 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 829 | 36 | 0 | 2.61 | .910 | ||
| 2010–11 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 29 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 1,594 | 71 | 2 | 2.67 | .918 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 23 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 1,289 | 44 | 3 | 2.05 | .929 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | HC Plzeň | ELH | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 993 | 35 | 1 | 2.11 | .924 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 36 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 2,104 | 70 | 5 | 2.00 | .929 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 1,466 | 46 | 3 | 1.88 | .940 | ||
| 2013–14 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 58 | 36 | 15 | 6 | 3,386 | 115 | 7 | 2.04 | .930 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 753 | 25 | 2 | 1.99 | .928 | ||
| 2014–15 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 70 | 34 | 21 | 13 | 4,063 | 156 | 3 | 2.30 | .922 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 64 | 31 | 22 | 8 | 3,679 | 157 | 4 | 2.56 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 65 | 37 | 20 | 5 | 3,680 | 137 | 8 | 2.23 | .915 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 403 | 15 | 0 | 2.24 | .920 | ||
| 2017–18 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 54 | 34 | 14 | 5 | 3,173 | 125 | 3 | 2.36 | .917 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 687 | 33 | 0 | 2.88 | .903 | ||
| 2018–19 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 46 | 27 | 13 | 5 | 2,635 | 109 | 4 | 2.48 | .912 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 1,459 | 49 | 2 | 2.02 | .934 | ||
| 2019–20 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 41 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 2,402 | 85 | 5 | 2.12 | .929 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 257 | 11 | 0 | 2.57 | .904 | ||
| 2020–21 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 24 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1,397 | 53 | 2 | 2.28 | .913 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 688 | 27 | 0 | 2.36 | .919 | ||
| 2021–22 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 196 | 14 | 0 | 4.28 | .844 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 564 | 308 | 165 | 66 | 32,405 | 1,230 | 52 | 2.28 | .921 | 104 | 57 | 46 | 6,541 | 242 | 7 | 2.22 | .925 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | W | L | T/OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Finland | WJC18 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 299 | 8 | 1 | 1.61 | .927 | |
| 2005 | Finland | WJC18 | 7th | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 278 | 14 | 0 | 3.02 | .910 | |
| 2005 | Finland | WJC | 5th | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 243 | 12 | 0 | 2.96 | .902 | |
| 2006 | Finland | WJC |  | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 369 | 13 | 1 | 2.11 | .940 | |
| 2007 | Finland | WJC | 6th | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 332 | 17 | 1 | 3.43 | .887 | |
| 2014 | Finland | OG | | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 243 | 7 | 1 | 1.73 | .937 | |
| 2016 | Finland | WCH | 8th | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 119 | 4 | 0 | 2.02 | .920 | |
| Junior totals | 27 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 1521 | 64 | 3 | 2.63 | .913 | ||||
| Senior totals | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 362 | 11 | 1 | 1.87 | .928 | ||||
_(1).jpg)
| Awards | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| AHL | ||
| AHL All-Star Game | 2008 | [60] |
| NHL | ||
| Stanley Cup champion | 2011 | |
| Vezina Trophy | 2014 | |
| NHL first All-Star team | 2014 | |
| NHL All-Star Game | 2017,2020 | [61] |
| William M. Jennings Trophy | 2020 | |
| NHL second All-Star team | 2020 | |
| International | ||
| IIHF World Junior Championship Bronze Medal | 2006 | |
| IIHF World Junior Championship Best Goaltender | 2006 | [60] |
| IIHF World Junior Championship All-Star team | 2006 | |
| Finnish Ice Hockey Player of the Year | 2013 | [60] |
| Winter Olympic Bronze Medal | 2014 | |
| Boston Bruins | ||
| Seventh Player Award | 2010 | [62] |
| John P. Bucyk Award | 2014 | |
| Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy | 2015 | |
| Bruins Three Stars Awards | 2010,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2020 | |
| Named One of Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time | 2024 | [63] |
In addition to the above, a newly discovered wasp species,Thaumatodryinus tuukkaraski, was named in Rask's honor in 2015.[68][69]
Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask's season had its peaks and valleys. Rask would be the first to tell you that...But it was the Bruins, out of necessity for the most part, that created those valleys when they overworked the all-world Rask...The numbers backed up that claim, too, as Rask began his season with 12 wins and a .938 save percentage in 17 games. He did that while also nursing an injured groin that put him on the shelf for three games back in October.
Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney issued the following update on Boston Bruins...goaltender Tuukka Rask...Tuukka underwent a successful right groin surgery on May 9 by Dr. Peter Asnis.
Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask said Monday he'll be ready for training camp after having groin surgery May 9...Rask, 30, said the rehabilitation process was relatively easy and that he feels "normal" three months after the surgery.
No one has played more games between the pipes in a Boston Bruins sweater than Tuukka Rask...Rask's franchise-leading 469th appearance in the Black and Gold is sure to be one that he will not soon forget, as he swatted away 36 shots in the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium
It was Rask's first start since sustaining a concussion Jan. 19 in a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers.
Tuukka Rask became the Boston Bruins all-time leader in wins by a goalie, making 24 saves in a 1-0 victory against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Sunday...Rask (253 wins) passed Cecil "Tiny" Thompson for the Bruins lead. It was Rask's second shutout of the season and the 43rd in the NHL.
Tuukka Rask revealed on Friday morning that he played most of the 2020-21 campaign with a torn hip labrum that will require surgery within the next month
As he prepares for a surgery and a lengthy recovery, Rask is also contemplating his playing future as he gets set to hit free agency for the first time since 2013. The backstop made it clear, however, that he has no interest in playing anywhere else, saying he and his family have made Boston their home.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick 2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theVezina Trophy 2014 | Succeeded by |