Can Tuukka Rask play middle?

It’s cute, if not scrumptious, that Tuukka Rask’s imminent return to the Boston Bruins is being greeted as one thing of the cavalry arriving. As a result of Bruins followers (and media) have by no means hesitated to throw no matter obtainable cutlery was round at Tuke Nuke ‘Em each spring as a result of he wasn’t Tim Thomas, when the Bruins would spit it. Rask is inches away from profitable two Cups (Chara hitting the publish in 2OT in Sport 1 within the ‘13 Ultimate, dropping Sport 7 at dwelling in ‘19), however for many of his profession he’s been on the high of the listing as to why the Bruins aren’t parading down Causeway St. come June — regardless of how unsuitable it often was.

The factor is, Rask’s Bruins groups all fell at some hurdle for a similar cause as those the Bruins are barely clinging on to a wildcard spot now. Rask couldn’t clear up the issues from the crease then, and he can’t clear up them returning to it now. Possibly if he might persuade David Krejčí to affix him…

That return would additionally probably not propel the Bruins to the highest of the Jap Convention, as a result of their downside isn’t goaltending, or not less than it’s removed from their largest fault. The Bruins are sixth within the league in objectives in opposition to at 2.59 and seventeenth within the league at even-strength save-percentage, however thirteenth in general save-percentage because of some glorious work on the penalty kill. And if there’s one group that doesn’t require elite goaltending to win, it’s the Bruins. Boston has had a convention of being a puck-dominant, defensively ridiculous group.

That’s no completely different now. The Bruins are the one group giving up lower than two anticipated objectives per 60 minutes of even-strength time (per NaturalStatTrick.com). They offer up subsequent to nothing.

If there’s one criticism of the Bruins goaltending duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, it’s that they don’t make the saves they shouldn’t make, even when they make virtually the entire saves they need to. Swayman has a 3.0 objectives saved above anticipated in 15 appearances, and Linus Ullmark is at -0.2 (for reference, the chief on this class is Toronto’s Jack Campbell at 19.2). However once more, there’s no group that requires “the massive save” lower than the Bruins.

Rask actually received’t cripple the Bruins financially, as he’s prone to signal for the minimal. That ought to go away the Bs some cap house to deal with their greater downside, the issue they’ve had for years, getting anybody to attain past their high line, which stays among the finest in hockey.

Even saying that, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak haven’t scored at their traditional fee both. Pastrnak solely has 9 objectives, because of a shooting-percentage that has cratered (7.3 % in opposition to a profession mark of 13.7). Marchand is over a degree per sport, however solely has 11 objectives, as does Bergeron. All of those ought to rebound, as a result of it’s simply all the way down to luck. Pastrnak isn’t affected by a scarcity of possibilities or pictures, he simply can’t get something to go in. These pictures ultimately will.

However behind them, it’s icky. Taylor Corridor continues to be there, however he’s been let down from the Bruins try to make Charlie Coyle a No. 2 middle, which is akin to changing a busted tire with an precise donut. Coyle is ok as a bottom-six bum-slayer, however the Bs fell in love along with his 2019 playoff run which he was by no means going to duplicate. He has 16 factors on the yr.

These days, coach Bruce Cassidy has cut up up the Perfection Line to pair Pastrnak with Corridor, however they’ve been flanking Erik Haula, who’s a profession grinder and employee bee. If he’s in your high six, the home wants work. Nobody on the Bruins past the highest line has greater than eight objectives. Then once more, whenever you signal skilled fuel leak Nick Foligno to just about $4 million for 2 years, possibly you get what you deserve.

The Bruins don’t get a lot offensive assist from their blue line both. Charlie McAvoy, one way or the other one of many league’s finest two-way d-men despite the fact that he all the time has the facial features of somebody who simply obtained punched within the balls, has 5 objectives. Each different d-man has 12 mixed.

Once more, as a result of Rask is prepared to play for nothing after making $60 million already, it received’t actually handicap the Bruins in no matter their bids are to enhance their scoring. And if he ought to show to be previous it, the mixture of Ullmark and Swayman have confirmed they are often defend the online behind the Bs stellar protection.

Nonetheless,none of that may do a lot for the Bruins path within the playoffs. They may nonetheless must undergo some mixture of Florida, Tampa, and Toronto (although the latter received’t maintain a lot worry for them, will it?). Swayman is simply 23, and his time will come sooner or later if not this yr.

Nonetheless, you possibly can’t assist however chortle on the welcome mat Rask is getting, when prior to now it was all the time a rail to hold him out of city, and the issues are all nonetheless the identical that he can’t do something about.