Bruins, Rask delaying contract talks until season's end

Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins will wait until the 2021 campaign concludes to wade into contract negotiations, Bruins president Cam Neely said Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin.

Rask is a pending unrestricted free agent. He's in the final season of an eight-year, $56-million pact inked with the club in summer 2013.

The 34-year-old goaltender helped the Bruins eliminate the Washington Capitals over five games in the first round of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. He posted a .941 save percentage and three goals saved above average while starting every game in the series.

Rask raised his game in that matchup - albeit over a small sample size - after producing a .913 save percentage over 24 contests during the regular season. He's spent his entire 14-year career with Boston, claiming the Vezina Trophy in 2014 and finishing as the runner-up last year.

In March 2020, the Finnish netminder said retiring when his contract ends is a possibility.

Jaroslav Halak, the Bruins' other primary puck-stopper, is also a pending UFA. He's carrying a $2.25-million cap hit and authored a .905 save percentage over 19 regular-season games this campaign. Jeremy Swayman, a 22-year-old rookie, went 7-3-0 with a .945 save percentage and 10 GSAA over 10 games with Boston this season.

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