Boston Bruins: What Does Tuukka Rask's Commitment to Bruins Mean Going Forward?

Boston Bruins backup goaltender Tuukka Rask is a restricted free agent in the summer, but he recently gave fans reason to be hopeful that he'll be with the team long-term.

Rask talked about his future with the Bruins earlier this week, via ESPN Boston:

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"I haven't really put a lot of thought into it, but he's [Thomas] got a year left on his contract and mine is up obviously, but I want to stay here. I'm sure they have a plan for that too and it will all work out good. I'm a young guy and I want to have a long future ahead of me as a Bruin and make more good things happen for the team and our fans."

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Rask leads the NHL in save percentage and GAA, despite not playing the majority of the Bruins' games because starter Tim Thomas is the reigning Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

The Bruins have two tremendous goalies who both deserve to be starters, and although it can be a frustrating situation at times, it's a problem every team would love to have.

Let's look at what Rask's commitment to the Bruins means long-term.

Tuukka Rask's Future Won't Be a Distraction for Bruins

Tuukka Rask's future with the Boston Bruins should not be a distraction this year whether the two sides reach a new deal before the season or not.

The Bruins know Rask is a fantastic young goaltender, and if they were willing to trade him, I think they would have done so already.

Giving up on a player as talented and young as Rask would be foolish, and any time you have a promising young goaltender, you cannot give up on him too early.

Rask does not let his lack of playing time affect the team or his performance. He's always ready to play no matter how many games he's had off.

His respect towards Tim Thomas and his acceptance of head coach Claude Julien's decision to give Thomas the majority of the playing time really shows how mature Rask is.

Fans Can Relax

Boston Bruins fans love Tuukka Rask, and he has certainly become a fan favorite ever since he became the starting goaltender in the 2009-10 season.

Rask is a funny guy who is very likable, and Bruins fans have really embraced him as a player who will lead the team into a promising future.

Allowing Rask to leave would have been devastating for the fans, and now that Rask seems willing to be in Boston for a while, the fans can relax.

Bruins Can Allow Tim Thomas to Play the Majority of Games

Tim Thomas still has another year left on his current contract, and now that Rask has publicly stated he wants to be a Bruin in the future, the team can afford to ride Thomas into the playoffs and not worry about getting Rask minutes in the postseason.

Despite Rask's spectacular play between the pipes this season, Thomas still gives the Bruins the best chance to win important games.

With Rask willing to stay in Boston beyond this year, the Bruins can continue to give Thomas the majority of the games and not worry about making sure Rask plays enough.

With that said, Rask is going to get his share of games in the second half of the season.

Rask and Thomas Give the Bruins Huge Advantage over Opponents

The Boston Bruins have an advantage no other NHL team has, and that is they have two elite goaltenders who can win against any team in either the regular season or the playoffs.

Tuukka Rask leads the league in save percentage and GAA, while Tim Thomas is fourth in GAA and second in save percentage.

Having two reliable goalies allows the Bruins to keep each of them fresh for the playoffs. Thomas played so many games last season in the Bruins' deep playoff run that culminated in a Stanley Cup championship, and lessening his workload in the second half of the season is certainly a priority for Coach Julien.

Being able to play Rask and give Thomas a rest often towards the end of the regular season, while still being able to win games because of Rask's talent is a huge positive for Boston moving forward.

Having fresh goaltenders who can be ready physically for the intense grind that is the NHL playoffs will greatly help the Bruins' chances of repeating as champions.

Tuukka Rask Gives the Bruins a Bright Future

With all the young talent the Bruins have, Tuukka Rask is the most exciting young star because he already has proven he can be reliable goaltender on a Stanley Cup contending team.

Rask shows unbelievable poise for a young goalie and does not let adversity or pressure bother him. His cool, calm demeanor really helps his teammates relax on the ice because they know that their goaltender isn't going to be rattled when things aren't going their way.

Rask is so fundamentally strong in net, and has all the making of goaltender who will compete for the Vezina Trophy on a yearly basis.