Tuukka Rask

Rask is coming off a 2018-19 regular season in which he carved out a 27-13-5 record, with a 2.48 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Meanwhile, backup Jaroslav Halak logged a 22-11-4 mark with a 2.34 GAA and a .922 save percentage. Rask's overall numbers were suppressed by some sluggish work early on, but his results improved down the stretch and his play during the postseason was simply outstanding. During the Bruins' lengthy playoff run, he recorded a sparkling save percentage of .934 to go along with a 2.02 GAA. It was an effort that serves as a reminder that when Rask is on his game, he's positionally sound and cool as a cucumber. The reduced workload he saw last season, thanks to Halak's effectiveness, seemed to agree with Rask over the long haul, and a similar arrangement should be in place in 2019-20. The 32-year-old Finn's fantasy outlook this coming season is bolstered by the fact that he's locked in as the top netminder on a defensively sound team.

Rask played in 54 regular-season games last season, as the Bruins tried to manage his workload with an eye toward keeping him fresh. That plan was facilitated by the solid play of backup Anton Khudobin, who has now been replaced by Jaroslav Halak, the Islanders' No. 1 goalie in 2017-18. Rask finished 2017-18 with a 34-14-5 record to go along with a 2.36 GAA and a .917 save percentage. He's posted better numbers over his career, but looking ahead his fantasy outlook is bolstered by the fact that he's locked in as the starter on a team that appears set to remain a top-level squad for the foreseeable future. When he's on, Rask is positionally sound and coolly fills the net. With a capable veteran understudy on hand, the Bruins can afford to continue to strategically rest Rask, so that the long NHL season doesn't wear him down.

Rask recorded a 37-20-5 record to go along with a 2.23 GAA, .915 save percentage and eight shutouts in 65 appearances this past season. While Rask’s numbers last season were palatable -- a 2.23 GAA, .915 save mark and eight shutouts in 65 appearances -- they were fueled by a hot start. Indeed, after going 17-6-3 with a 1.87 GAA and .930 save mark, over his first 26 appearances, Rask’s post-Christmas save mark was just .903 over his final 39 regular-season games, followed by a first-round playoff exit. A groin injury that nagged the Finn during stretches of the season certainly didn't help his cause, but that issue has been addressed, so the 30-year-old is expected to enter training camp healthy. It remains to be seen who'll back him up this coming season, but the Bruins are hoping to ID a reliable option who can help keep the 30-year-old netminder fresh and healthy. Since earning the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14, Rask’s numbers have fallen off thanks to inconsistent defensive play in front of him; as an incoming wave of young blue-line talent arrives in Boston, that context could soon brighten for Rask, who’s positionality sound and cool as a cucumber when he’s on his game.

With five more years left on his contract at an annual $7 million cap hit, it would appear that Rask is around for the long haul, despite whispers – and that’s probably all they are – that the Bruins could entertain dealing the 29-year-old goalie, who earned the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14. Since then, Rask’s numbers have regressed thanks to a subsequent erosion in the team defense play in front of him, a reality that has seen him drop out of the elite class of fantasy netminders. With a blue line that remains sketchy until the next wave of stockpiled talent arrives, Rask figures to be hard-pressed to reach new fantasy heights in 2016-17. When he’s on, Rask is positionality sound and cool as a cucumber. His subpar 2015-16 numbers (including a 2.56 GAA and save percentage of .915) reflect team-wide issues, but at the same time, in order for him to engineer a bounce back, he’ll have tighten things up on his own end and not rely on instant systemic remedies within the organization.

Though Rask finished the 2014-15 season with respectable enough numbers -- a 34-21-13 record, 2.30 GAA, and .922 save percentage -- it amounted to a big step back from his Vezina Trophy effort the previous campaign, during which he posted a 36-15-6 record, 2.04 GAA, .930 save percentage, and a league-high seven shutouts. While Rask is clearly entrenched as the B's top goalie, the team's failure to qualify for the playoffs last season led to significant roster turnover in advance of the 2015-16. In his current team context, Rask can no longer take airtight defensive play in front of him for granted, with the Bruins’ blue line -- which took a hit with the defection of Johnny Boychuk last season -- having been further diluted by the offseason trade of Dougie Hamilton. Moreover, there’s been some shake-up in the personnel up front, and it remains to be seen if the moves will help spark the B’s scoring attack and keep Rask among the league leaders in wins. With that in mind, Rask isn’t the elite fantasy no-brainer that he was heading into last season when the Bruins were perceived as an upper-echelon squad, but he does remain a highly talented netminder who is assured a significant workload, thanks to the team’s uncertain backup goalie situation.

Rask, who was named the 2013-14 recipient of the Vezina Trophy, posted a 36-15-6 record, 2.04 GAA, .930 save percentage and a league-high seven shutouts in 58 games for the Bruins this past season. The 27-year-old, who the Bruins have signed through 2020-21 at an annual cap figure of $7 million, is in the heart of his NHL prime -- in both real and fantasy terms -- and will continue to serve as the team’s top goalie for the immediate future, while seeing the bulk of the team's starts. Those looking to insure their investment in Rask this season are advised to look into drafting Niklas Svedberg, who is on track to replace Chad Johnson as the Bruins’ No. 2 goalie.

Rask solidified his status as a top notch goalie for the B's with a fine 2012-13 effort (featuring a 19-10-5 record with a GAA of 2.00 and save percentage of .929) that carried into the playoffs. He then signed an eight-year, $56 million contract extension this offseason that ensures that he’ll man the Boston nets for the foreseeable future. The 26-year-old Finn is a calm customer, who plays in front of a defensively sound team. Heath permitting, Rask heads into the 2013-14 season as one of the top netminders in fantasy hockey.

Rask was excellent in a backup role last season, posting a record of 11-8-3 and a 2.05 GAA to go along with a .929 save percentage. With former Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas planning to sit out the upcoming campaign, Rask is primed for a big jump up our rankings in his role as the Bruins’ starting netminder. If the unflappable Finn stays healthy, the 25-year-old has massive fantasy upside playing behind the defensively responsible Bruins.

Rask will return to the B's this season to capably back up Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas. On the heels of a strong run (1.97 GAA and .931 save percentage in 45 games) in 2009-10, Rask was on track to be the Bruins' No. 1 goalie this past season, but Thomas quickly reclaimed that gig and never let up. The unflappable Finn finished the campaign with an 11-14-2 record with a 2.67 GAA and .918 save percentage in 29 games.

Rask finished his stellar rookie season with a 22-12-5 record with a sparkling 1.97 GAA and .931 save percentage. He should enter the 2010-11 campaign as the Bruins' undisputed top goaltender (even if former Vezina winner Tim Thomas is not dealt) and figures to be among the top tier of goalies in our preseason fantasy rankings. There's always the possibility that hotshot youngsters can regress, but Rask is one cool customer whose unflappable nature (to go along with his sound technique) figures to help him avoid such an occurrence.

The highly touted Rask will replace Manny Fernandez as Tim Thomas’ backup, making him one injury away from backstopping one of the league’s sounder defensive clubs. The B’s signed Thomas to a four-year extension last April, so there appears to be no rush to anoint Rask as the man, but he will be one of the league’s higher-upside backups.

The 21-year-old Rask is slated for a second year as AHL Providence's No. 1 goaltender, with a healthy Fernandez and the underrated Tim Thomas returning to Boston. Injuries could change that plan, but the thinking is that another full year in the minors is just what Rask, one of hockey's top netminding prospects, needs. If he happens to be available in your keeper league, snatch him now.

Hannu Toivonen had a terrible season and Tim Thomas is more or less a backup, so the Bruins are hoping that Rask can develop quickly. There's a chance he will be in North America for the 2007-08 season, but he will almost certainly need time in the AHL to get used to playing on the smaller ice surface. Rask just turned 20 years old, so he is very young, but if he can learn how to play on the smaller ice surface quickly, he could be a factor for the Bruins this season.

Rask is the next great product out of the Finnish goalie machine. His value has skyrocketed over the past year after an outstanding performance at the 2006 World Junior Tournament (4-2, 2.11, .940) and he's destined to be a number one goalie in the NHL. He needs more experience, particularly to help him get a handle on his questionable rebound control, and he'll get it over the next few years. He's a great keeper league junior pick-up but that's all right now.

Rask is a flashy and enigmatic butterfly specialist who will dominate one game and stink the joint out the next. He's long and lanky, and his stamina is often called into question. Star or dud? He's worth the risk. Just don't expect him to be in the NHL for several years.