'The window is closing': Rask realistic about Bruins' aging core

One day after signing a one-year deal to rejoin his beloved Boston Bruins, longtime goaltender Tuukka Rask took a moment to reflect on his fellow veterans' futures in Beantown.

"We're realistic that we're getting older and the window is closing, (whether) that's a year, two or three years, who knows?" Rask said when asked about his conversations with Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron regarding their long-term outlook, according to NHL reporter Amalie Benjamin. "But it's closing, and we know that."

Though Rask added he and Bergeron haven't talked much about their future, he did have some advice for how the 36-year-old can boost his longevity.

"He should do what I did - take half the season off," Rask joked, according to Boston Sports Journal's Conor Ryan.

Rask has yet to play in a game this season after undergoing surgery on a torn hip labrum in June. He signed a professional tryout with Boston's AHL affiliate on Thursday with the intention of making a couple of starts with the Providence Bruins, but Providence's games on Friday and Sunday were postponed due to COVID-19 issues.

Rask inked a $1-million deal with Boston but will only earn $545,000 because he signed so late in the campaign, according to PuckPedia.

"I think the biggest motivation is to play with the group I've played with my whole career and have another chance to win. That's about it," he said.

"I think the biggest motivation is to play with the group that I've played with my whole career and have another chance to win." -- @tuukkarask on returning to the #NHLBruins on a one-year deal pic.twitter.com/ThRD0V3gnk

- Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 12, 2022

As for his next deal, the 34-year-old isn't focusing on it.

"We'll see. I haven't made any plans for the future. ... I haven't made any long-term plans yet. We'll see what happens," he said, according to Ryan.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Rask will serve as Linus Ullmark's backup for Wednesday's contest against the Montreal Canadians, while Jeremy Swayman will be assigned to Providence.

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