Causeway Crowd
Fansided

Predicting Which Bruins Free Agents Return or Leave

By Scott Roche

Mar 3, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) during the second period against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) during the second period against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 12
Next
Feb 25, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) reacts after allowing the New York Islanders to score five goals in the third period and seven overall during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) reacts after allowing the New York Islanders to score five goals in the third period and seven overall during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Jaroslav Halak

Over the previous two seasons, Halak played a big part in the Bruins’ success, while also allowing Rask time to rest and be more ready for the playoffs. In 2019-20, Rask and Halak combined to win the William Jennings Award in the shortened 70-game season.

Last season in the Toronto bubble, Halak took over the main responsibilities when Rask left in the first round of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to go home and tend to a family matter. After helping the Black and Gold finish off the Carolina Hurricanes, things got tougher and fell apart in the Semifinals against the Lightning, as Boston was bounced in five games.

In May of 2020, Halak signed a one-year deal to return in 2021 as Rask’s backup, but the success he had in the last two years didn’t translate to another good third year. When Rask went down with an injury in early March, Halak found himself on the sidelines too when he was shut down because of COVID-19.

Rask is also a free agent as mentioned above and if he re-signs, he will be out until January or February of 2022 because of surgery he’s going to have for a torn hip labrum. The Bruins could bring back Halak on another one-year deal to split time with either Jeremy Swayman or Dan Vladar, but that seems like a long shot.

Prediction: Halak signs somewhere else or retires.

Home/Bruins News