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Is Tuukka ready for Tuukka time?
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(Elsa/Getty Images) With Tim Thomas sitting out for the 2012-13 season, Tuukka Rask has now become the number one goalie in Boston
There have been some rumblings around Causeway Street that Tuukka Rask may not be ready to relieve Tim Thomas of his duties as the number one goalie in Boston. Let’s get real people, it is officially Tuukka Time.
For the past three seasons, Rask was splitting time with Thomas and at times outplaying the veteran. Last season, before Rask went down with an injury he played in 23 games holding an 11-8 record with three shutouts. His save percentage was a cool .929% and he let in just above two goals a game (2.05).
This young kid has a bright future ahead of him. In his 102 career games with the Bruins, Rask has a 47-35 career record with 11 shutouts. His save percentage is .926% and his GAA stands at 2.20. The 25-year-old stud is ready to show the National Hockey League what he really is made of.
Many fans also think that Rask cannot lead a team to the Stanley Cup Finals and they are very much wrong again. In his first start in the playoffs in the 2009-2010 season, Rask went 7-6 and it took a brutal collapse to end the Bruins season. Rask has lived and forgotten that experience and in 2011-2012 was on his way to a stellar season before his injury.
This 21st overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft finally has the chance that he has been waiting for. When he was not playing he got to learn from one of the best goaltenders in the league (Tim Thomas, yeah, remember him?). The sky is the limit for this young net minder and Rask admitted that he will not approach this season any differently than in the past just because Thomas is not there.
“I’ve been waiting for a few years now (so) it’s going to be interesting to see how I handle it,” Rask said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m always up for a challenge and you just got to make the most of it and have fun.”
Rask signed a $3.5 million contract extension for one year, but Bruins fans will be surprised at what a bargain this kid is going to be for the 2012-2013 season.
“Sometimes, you have to roll the dice a bit and see what happens,” Rask said regarding his contract that he accepted and Bruins fans are hoping he can deliver.
While I think he is a decent goalie – he’s not been as good as Tim Thomas and collapsed against the Flyers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Rask is going to have to be more consistent if he is going to be the man in Boston. When the Bruins made their run – Thomas was almost inhuman like as he was a machine stopping many of the oppositions grade “A” opportunities.
Do I think he has the potential to be a front line NHL starter? Yes! Do I think he is there yet? Nope! Rask has a way to go to make us forget about Tim Thomas.
He needs to start more than 40 games i think before the jury is out, whenever hockey resumes (on the record, contrary to what I wrote the other day on a “new hope” in CBA talks, and in response to your comment from that post, Goon I was and still am a little pessimistic that there will be a lockout).
I will say however, even though he did collapse against the Flyers in 2010 (as did most of the team), at no point would that team have even made the playoffs, let alone win a first round series against Buffalo, if it wasn’t for Tuukka.
I am not as positive that there will be a new agreement to the CBA anytime soon.