The AHL’s Providence Bruins have signed goaltender Tuukka Rask to a professional tryout agreement. The team announced the signing on Thursday morning and most believe this is the first official step towards Rask returning to the Boston Bruins of the NHL.
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Rask is expected to start in net for the Providence Bruins on Friday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers.
This has been a long-time coming as Rask has been practicing with the Bruins for a few weeks and had previously joked he would sign for $250K and a ton of Bud Light. He wanted to get back into the NHL and he wanted to do so with the Boston Bruins. The wheels are finally starting to turn in that regard.
When asked how the other goaltenders were handling the news of Rask coming back, coach Bruce Cassidy said he spelled out the plan for Rask with the Bruins and told both men the focus was on both of the current goaltenders (Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman). He noted that both also know this is a world-class pro and that all three goalies have been true pros and that the three have worked together with Rask getting his reps in last. Cassidy says Rask is only on step one.
What Happens With Swayman?
Cassidy did say that Swayman is the goaltender who doesn’t need waivers and that while it doesn’t mean Swayman will be moved to the AHL, it’s the easiest move for the Bruins to make and probably the most likely one, even though no one knows for sure how this will all play out.
Both have accepted they can only control the things they can control and they “were fine” said the coach.
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