The rapid spread of COVID-1 9 and its effect on daily life has been difficult, including on athletics. Hockey followers have only just weeks away from the best postseason athletics has to offer- the Stanley Cup Playoffs- before the NHL suspended its season. Numerous love are doing their best to look forward to the future, and the brighter days that recline ahead.
Last week, however, Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask yielded fans more cause for concern when he mentioned his possible retirement after his contract expires next season.
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Rask has been a staple in Boston’s net since Tim Thomas left and he has made a very strong case to be included among the best goaltenders in crew history. His. 922 busines save percentage( SV %) is bind with Dominik Hasek and Ken Dryden for the best all-time among NHL netminders, and his 2.26 goals-against average( GAA) sits 11 th among the league’s best ever. A Vezina Trophy winner in 2013 -1 4, Rask was thumping on the door of another this season before the stop.
If Tuukka Rask retires, what’s next for the Bruins?( Jess Starr/ The Hockey Novelist)
It’s been a while since the Bruins have had to worry about who their No. 1 goaltender will be. At really 32 years old, it wasn’t a stretch to think the Finnish netminder would be around for a little longer, but with a autobiography of health concerns, including many jolts, Rask’s future in aim is understandably uncertain.
What would the Bruins do if he hangs up his skates after next season?
The Heir to the Throne?
As my colleague Scott Roche wrote about the possibility of Rask’s retirement, the Bruins should aim for a long-term solution. The question to question whether that long-term option is already under contract, or if they have to reach beyond the organization to fill the void.
Right now, the Bruins have two potential heirs to the crease: Daniel Vladar and Jeremy Swayman.
Both musicians have shown promise, but they are young — Vladar is 22 years old, Swayman is 21. While Rask broke into the NHL with a. 931 SV% and 1.97 GAA at time 22 years old in 2009 -1 0, that is a rarity. As a rule, goaltenders take longer than skaters to develop and adjust to the professional game.
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That’s not to say that either of these two couldn’t step into a larger role with the Bruins in a year and a half’s time, but it would be a huge risk to assume that they have their next starter waiting for him them.
Dan Vladar has had an excellent season in Providence. But how long until he’s ready for a starting role.( Jess Starr/ The Hockey Columnist)
That being said, there are reasons to be rosy. As my other peer, Brandon Share-Cohen wrote earlier this month, Vladar has looked like the real deal with Providence this season. His 14 -7- 1 record,. 936 SV% and 1.79 GAA are a considerable startle from the past 3 seasons, but as BSC too point out here that, he’s been a streaky player throughout his vocation. With a small sample size, it’s tough to realise too strong a judgment about Vladar.
Meanwhile, Swayman is coming off of a flat-out stellar season at the University of Maine. His 2.07 GAA,. 937 SV% and three shutouts made him Hockey East Player of the Time status. He was the first goalie to win the accolade since Thatcher Demko and Kevin Boyle split it in 2015 -1 6. He was also named a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to college hockey’s best player.
As superb as Swayman has been in college, the pros are a different ogre. If he does have what it takes to be an NHL starter, it will likely be a few years before he’s as reliable as the Bruins are hoping.
The good story is this: the Bruins have two goaltending prospects who are coming off promising seasons. The bad news: It’s unlikely either of them is ready to take on more than a backup role by the end of next season.
The Veteran Option
Even if Vladar or Swayman is destined to be an NHL starter down the road, opportunities are they’ll both need time as a backup to adjust. Ideally, they are able to both looking predicting next season, but it would be a surprise to see the Bruins immediately trust either with a starting role if Rask does retire at the end of the 2020 -2 021 season.
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The plan would look like this — one of the two young goaltenders( likely Vladar who has more professional experience) serves as the backup next season. During this time, Swayman gets a chance to adjust to the professional recreation in Providence. Considering that Bruins backup Jaroslav Halak is a free agent after this season( and will likely be too expensive for the Bruins to re-sign ), promoting Vladar seems like it’s in the cards.
Jeremy Swayman is another promising option for the Bruins, but he’ll need time to develop.( Photo Credit: Peter Buehner)
From there, if Rask retires, they sign a ex-serviceman goaltender to connect the gap between Rask and the next long-term goaltender. In a perfect nature, Vladar and Swayman would combat it out to determine who the next long-term refute is.
But this isn’t a perfect world. At least one of the two will likely fall off as Zane McIntyre did.( from’ Bruins hope goalies Jeremy Swayman and Dan Vladar can succeed where others fell short ,’ Herald News, 03/19/ 2020) That’s how it is with prospects, and extremely goaltenders. Plus, traumata happen. That sort of thing could push back( or derail) the intention much, even though they are one of the goaltenders has a breakout season. Realistically, if either can make their way to a starting role anytime soon, that’s a success for the Bruins.
Otherwise, the Bruins may have to reach outside the organization until someone who’s capable of taking the predominates comes along in a few seasons.
As with anything, we’ll have to play the next two seasons by ear. Rask may not retire, in which case Vladar and Swayman have even more time to develop. If Rask does retire , the smartest play for the Bruins is to bring in a veteran until Vladar or Swayman( or someone else ?) sacrifices them no choice but to give them a chance.
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