Bruins' Rask: 'I don’t want to play for anybody else'

One month after Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney gave Tuukka Rask a vote of confidence, the goaltender says he doesn't expect to be traded and wouldn't want to play elsewhere.

I think Sweeney came out and said that's not going to happen," Rask told the Boston Herald's Steve Conroy. I don't want to play for anybody else but the Bruins."

Sweeney said in September that he had "zero reservations about where Tuukka will be both on and off the ice for us," whenever the 2020-21 season begins.

Rask doesn't believe trading him is necessary.

I don't see any reason for that," he said. I've been here for a long time and the organization's been so great for me. We've built our home in Boston and we call this home."

"... I think where my head's at is focusing on next year and then hopefully a couple of more years after that and then pass the torch for the next guy after that. I want to help the organization as much as I can," the veteran continued.

The 33-year-old has played his entire 13-year career with Boston, establishing himself as one of the league's premier goalies in the process. Rask is entering the final campaign of the eight-year extension he inked in 2013, which carries a $7-million cap hit.

Bruins backup Jaroslav Halak is also signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $2.25 million. Both goalies would be unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their deals.

Rask opted out of the NHL's return to play in August, citing the need to be with his family. Bruins president Cam Neely later revealed the netminder left the bubble to deal with a family emergency.

Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.