When it comes to Tuukka Rask potentially playing in the NHL this season, the assumption has been that the only team he would play for is the Bruins.
That assumption has been made because Rask himself has said publicly that he doesn’t want to play for any other team. He told The Greg Hill Show at the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon in August that he takes pride in spending his entire career with one team and wants to finish it as a Bruin.
Perhaps things aren’t quite so clear-cut now, though. Appearing on The Jeff Marek Show on Thursday, Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said he doesn’t believe it’s “Boston or bust” for Rask. (The brief discussion starts around 17:45 here.)
“I don’t think it’s Boston or bust,” Friedman said when asked by Marek. “At least that’s not the information that I’ve heard. I’ve just heard that the Bruins remain his number one priority. Now, we’ll see what happens, but that’s what I’ve heard.”
Rask has started skating at Warrior Ice Arena and has worked with Bruins staff, but he remains a free agent and, in theory, could sign with any team. He said in August that he thought he could be ready to play around Christmas or early January after undergoing offseason hip surgery.
Friedman’s comments don’t necessarily mean that Rask has changed his mind about anything, and he even says that Boston remains Rask’s priority. What it could mean, though, is that if the Bruins decide not to sign Rask, the goalie would at least consider the possibility of playing for another team this season instead of just retiring.
Marek mentions the Edmonton Oilers as a possibility, and a team like that could make sense -- one that has Stanley Cup aspirations, but a need for an upgrade in net.
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