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Tuukka Rask has been one of the best goaltenders in the National Hockey League over the last few seasons. With a Vezina trophy win, a Stanley Cup ring (albeit as a backup to Tim Thomas) and a second Stanley Cup appearance, Rask has proven time and time again that he can hang with the best. As it stands, the Boston Bruins have a shaky-at-best defensive group which they could, and should, look to improve.
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The Bruins defense currently employs Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg, Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, and has the possibility to include Matt Irwin, Zach Trotman, Joe Morrow, and Colin Miller. The group doesn’t exactly make Bruins fans jump for joy, especially with aging players like Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg who still have lingering effects from injuries. When asked about the Bruins current defensive group, Tuukka Rask had this to say: “I don’t think there’s a reason to be worried.” while also adding, “I haven’t been worried” Rask was also questioned about Dougie Hamilton to which he said he was surprised, which is the sentiment that just about every Bruin fan felt.
“I think everybody was surprised, but there’s always the truth somewhere. I haven’t heard what happened, but if he felt like he had to move on, he had to move on.” – Tuukka Rask
It has been reported that the Boston Bruins have been in talks with a few free agent defensemen like Cody Franson, Marek Zidlicky, and have been linked with Dustin Byfuglien and Keith Yandle for a while. If any signing or trade comes to fruition is left to be determined, but it goes without saying that Tuukka Rask is in the prime of his career and deserves a defensive group that can bail him out instead of having all of pressure on him for 70 games again this season. Tuukka Rask is more than capable of playing 70 games in a season, however once the playoffs roll around, that can and will take a toll on even the most durable goalies in the league.
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The Bruins currently have three goalies vying for the backup job this season; Jeremy Smith,
Malcolm Subban, and Zane McIntyre. While all goalies have potential to be something special, none of them have any experience in the NHL, with one game of shared experience between them. The Bruins could look to throw one of them into the fire this year as the backup for Tuukka Rask like they did in the 2014-15 season with
Niklas Svedberg, but Bruins fans collectively cringe when they think about how that went. The Bruins could still sign a cheap veteran backup for Tuukka Rask this season to provide some well-deserved rest when it’s needed. If
Claude Julienbelieves one of his three young goaltenders are up for the challenge this season, then it is probably that General Manager
Don Sweeneytrusts his coach’s judgement and lets the season play-out without signing a new backup.