Tuukka Rask likely to end comeback with Boston Bruins?

It looks like Tuukka Rask’s comeback story has come to an end.

According to Fluto Shizawa of The Athletic, the Boston Bruins don’t expect Rask to return to the team this season and he could officially retire in the coming days.

Rask, 34, underwent hip surgery over the offseason and began his comeback in November. He practiced with the Bruins and signed a professional tryout contract with their AHL affiliate before inking a one-year contract worth $1 million on Jan. 11.

In Rask’s first game back with the Bruins, he stopped 25 of 27 shots in a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Rask struggled in his next start, as he was pulled after allowing five goals on 12 shots to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Rask would start two more times for the Bruins before going on the shelf with a lower-body injury.

If Rask does ultimately retire, the Bruins will go back to operating with a goaltending tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. When Rask was signed, Swayman, who has a .916 save percentage in 17 games this season, was sent down to the AHL.

Rask is the Bruins’ all-time leader in wins with 564. He was the backup to Tim Thomas when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011 and led the team to the Final in 2013 and 2019 as a starter.