The Boston Bruins AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, has signed Tuukka Rask to a professional tryout.
Tuukka Rask Signs PTO with Providence
The long-awaited moment has arrived. Tuukka Rask is back in black and gold. Although it’s not the same black and gold fans may have been expecting. Rask is on a PTO in the AHL and is expected to get into his first game action on Friday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The former Vezina-winning goaltender has been a free agent since the end of last season after he suffered a torn labrum.
What Happens to Ullmark and Swayman?
This is the question fans want to know the answer to. Tuukka Rask signing the PTO is a sign that he will be back in the NHL sooner than later. His PTO is a mere formality, in that the team is using this as a conditioning stint until they can get him signed to an NHL deal. He is still a top-tier NHL goaltender when healthy. But that begs the question, who stays on the NHL roster?
The answer is Linus Ullmark. While he hasn’t been spectacular, he has played reasonably well at times. Jeremy Swayman has had a marginally better season with a .920 save percentage to Ullmark’s .917. Swayman also has a shutout. But the downside is that he is still on his entry-level contract. While the Bruins would surely love to keep their goaltender of the future on the NHL roster, he is the only one of the two who can be sent down without passing through waivers. So rather than lose the tandem that they hope will win a title, Swayman will return to Providence. It should be a short stint, however, as Rask is expected to sign a one-year contract. Swayman should make it back to the NHL next season.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
