Tuukka Rask remains one of the top young goalies in the NHL. But despite a stellar rookie campaign in 2009-10, Rask discovered quickly this past year that veteran Tim Thomas wasn't quite ready to turn over the keys to the Boston goal just yet. Rask was relegated to spectator status for most of Thomas' historic campaign, but he remains a big part of the Bruins' future plans.
2010-11 stats: 29 games, 11-14-2, 2.76 GAA, .918 save percentage, 2 shutouts
Playoffs: Did not play
Contract status: Signed through 2011-12, $1.25-million cap hit
Preseason expectations: After supplanting Thomas as the club's starting netminder and leading the NHL in both goals-against average and save percentage in 2009-10, Rask entered last season expected to remain the primary starter in goal, albeit likely with a more balanced workload with Thomas.
Regular-season evaluation: Rask did get the starting assignment in the season opener in Prague, but lost a 5-2 decision to Phoenix. Rask wouldn't get his first win of the season until Nov. 18, a 41-save shutout against Florida in just his sixth appearance of the season as Thomas regained the starting role with a tremendous start to the season and never relinquished it. Rask had a few shaky outings early in the year, but overall his numbers were decent. They just paled in comparison to the league-leading 1.97 GAA and .931 save percentage he put up in his rookie year and Thomas' NHL-best 2.00 GAA and NHL-record .938 save percentage this season. Still, Rask's save percentage ranked 14th in the NHL, ahead of the likes of Ryan Miller (.916), Dwayne Roloson (.914), Jimmy Howard (.908) and Martin Brodeur (.903), among others. But Rask struggled to earn wins, especially at home. He was only 4-8-1 on home ice despite better overall numbers at the Garden (2.62 GAA, .922 save percentage) compared to the road, where he went 7-6-1 with a 2.72 GAA and .914 save percentage. Rask's high point in the season came away from the Garden, as he helped the Bruins post a perfect 6-0-0 road trip late in the year. Rask won four of those games, allowing just seven goals combined, capped by a 31-save shutout in Ottawa on March 1 to complete the trip. Rask played the good soldier and never complained about his lack of playing time. It helped that Rask and Thomas share a strong friendship, and Rask was as genuinely happy for Thomas' resurgence as anyone on the roster.
Playoff evaluation: Rask dressed for all 25 postseason games but never saw any game action as Thomas earned Conn Smythe honors. But as he had in the regular season, Rask remained extremely supportive of Thomas and the rest of his teammates and did his best to keep them sharp with his work in practice. Rask never pouted about his lack of playing time. It was just the opposite, as he was the club's most enthusiastic cheerleader from the bench, leading the charge onto the ice after each series-clinching win and frequently commandeering the iPod dock in the locker room to blast the music for post-game celebrations.
2011-12 outlook: Unlike last year, Rask will enter this season as the backup in goal. After Thomas took home the Vezina and Conn Smythe, there's no question that he'll remain atop the depth chart. But the last time Thomas won the Vezina, Rask ended up taking over the No. 1 role by the end of the season, so Rask isn't conceding anything just yet. "Of course I want to be the guy," Rask said after the season. "He wants to be the guy. Everybody wants to be the guy. It's a fair competition between us every day. We like the way it is and hopefully we can both get playing time and help the team get wins." As good as Thomas was last year, he is 37 and has had injury problems in the past, most notably requiring hip surgery after the 2009-10 season. Rask, 24, is as good an insurance policy as there is at the position, and he and Thomas are sure to continue to push each other and make each other better throughout the season. Where things get tricky is after this season. Thomas still has two years left on his deal, while Rask will be a restricted free agent next summer. How much longer will he accept staying in an understudy role? And can the Bruins afford to pay both men No. 1 money and still fit everyone else in under the cap? Those problems are still a year away. For this season, the Bruins can just take comfort in having the best 1-2 punch in goal in the league.
Coming Tuesday, Aug. 9: Tim Thomas
