I’m watching game 7 highlights from last season. Go (frank) yourselves. I’m a Blues fan 1st.

Crazy that the first player to walk out on their team was a starting goalie leaving 7M in dead cap space as opposed to some benchwarmer scrubs that make league minimum.

Also, I remember when his teammate, Patrice Bergeron played through a punctured lung, broken rib and separated shoulder in the playoffs.

https://sports.yahoo.com/...-hole-lung-175519455.html
- RonPielep

Not crazy at all. Rask's future is secure. A scrub is going to work his butt off to stay in the league for the glory and the check.

I’m watching game 7 highlights from last season. Go (frank) yourselves. I’m a Blues fan 1st.
- BluesDroogie

(frank) off, shrimp dyck.

Not crazy at all. Rask's future is secure. A scrub is going to work his butt off to stay in the league for the glory and the check.
- Only_A_Ladd

Good point. More hungry for sure.

This is so brutal for the Bruins. At the very least he should have opted out before everything started back up. Guys who are enlisted in the military don't have the luxury of going AWOL like this no matter what personal issues they have going on. At the very least he ought to return some of his 7 million dollar salary but we all know that won't happen. Pro athletes are becoming unbearable at this point.

Crazy that the first player to walk out on their team was a starting goalie leaving 7M in dead cap space as opposed to some benchwarmer scrubs that make league minimum.

Also, I remember when his teammate, Patrice Bergeron played through a punctured lung, broken rib and separated shoulder in the playoffs.

https://sports.yahoo.com/...-hole-lung-175519455.html
- RonPielep

Cap space now is irrelevant. Rosters have been expanded.

This is so brutal for the Bruins. At the very least he should have opted out before everything started back up. Guys who are enlisted in the military don't have the luxury of going AWOL like this no matter what personal issues they have going on. At the very least he ought to return some of his 7 million dollar salary but we all know that won't happen. Pro athletes are becoming unbearable at this point.
- chelsea dagger

This is not the military. They know exactly what they're signing up for when they enlist. Players being able to opt out was negotiated for in the agreement to return to play.

This is one of those things that you dont just wake up and decide. This has definitely been an issue since day 1. Had he done this before joining the playoffs, fine, no problem. Boston can compensate, Halak can get warmed up, tuned up and ready to go.

But to know you feel this way, to still go & play and then to walk out on your team is selfish. This means that all through the round robin, there was a goalie in net that didnt want to be there. Which means Boston could have been in a totally different position had Halak been playing the whole time.

As a mbr of the military, I’ve missed countless bdays, xmas’, and numerous other holidays while deployed or away on training.....and I make a tiny fraction of what Rask makes. I respect his decision, but he signed a contract to help the bruins win, and he’s not fulfilling that contract. He should be required to give back a % of his salary.

If I choose not to work, even for a legitimate family reason, I wouldn’t get paid....and neither would most people. So why should he get to keep his entire salary if he’s not keeping his end of the bargain?

No it's not ok. The guy is soft. Wanker.

I think you need to read Sweeney’s statement. He said something along the lines of

“This wasn’t really a surprise, we’re privy to info the public doesn’t have. His priorities are in order, we 100% support him”

Sounds to me like Tuukka:
had concerns from day 1
informed the team
came to the bubble and gave it his best shot
Decided he wasn’t into it and it wasn’t worth it

It’s shocking to us fans but I’ve yet to hear ANYTHING that implies Tuukka simply bailed on his team
- Shaundre93

Sounds like to me he came to pick up his paycheque. He's a wanker.

As a mbr of the military, I’ve missed countless bdays, xmas’, and numerous other holidays while deployed or away on training.....and I make a tiny fraction of what Rask makes. I respect his decision, but he signed a contract to help the bruins win, and he’s not fulfilling that contract. He should be required to give back a % of his salary.

If I choose not to work, even for a legitimate family reason, I wouldn’t get paid....and neither would most people. So why should he get to keep his entire salary if he’s not keeping his end of the bargain?
- sensarmy_11

I thought if the players opt out they aren’t getting paid. I could be wrong.

This is one of those things that you dont just wake up and decide. This has definitely been an issue since day 1. Had he done this before joining the playoffs, fine, no problem. Boston can compensate, Halak can get warmed up, tuned up and ready to go.

But to know you feel this way, to still go & play and then to walk out on your team is selfish. This means that all through the round robin, there was a goalie in net that didnt want to be there. Which means Boston could have been in a totally different position had Halak been playing the whole time.
- aecliptic

Would staying knowing that you aren't 100% committed to the team and your heart and head is elsewhere be considered selfish?

This is not the military. They know exactly what they're signing up for when they enlist. Players being able to opt out was negotiated for in the agreement to return to play.
- MJL

Just because Rask is able to do this based on the agreement doesn't make what he's done here the right thing. He's left his teammates in a terrible spot, abruptly leaving two games into a playoff series, rather than considering his teammates and giving them enough time to get Halak ready to play. I'd want Rask gone if I was on his team, total lack of character on his part. Whining because there aren't any fans cheering him on, it's pathetic. Military guys are way tougher and deserve far more than these pathetic athletes.

I thought if the players opt out they aren’t getting paid. I could be wrong.
- Queenie_5_hole

The players are not paid during the playoffs. Their salary is for the season, they don’t have one if and when their teams make the playoffs.

As a mbr of the military, I’ve missed countless bdays, xmas’, and numerous other holidays while deployed or away on training.....and I make a tiny fraction of what Rask makes. I respect his decision, but he signed a contract to help the bruins win, and he’s not fulfilling that contract. He should be required to give back a % of his salary.

If I choose not to work, even for a legitimate family reason, I wouldn’t get paid....and neither would most people. So why should he get to keep his entire salary if he’s not keeping his end of the bargain?
- sensarmy_11

First of all, thank you very much for your service. When you enlisted, were you informed of what was going to happen and what the risks were. That you could be deployed and away from your family for a substantial amount of time? I would say yes.

When Rask or any other player negotiated his contract, was he informed that there was a possibility that he could sequestered in a bubble and away from his family for up to 3 months or so? With no in person contact to a new born son? There is a reason why there had to be a negotiation with the NHLPA and why players were given the ability to opt out.

Would staying knowing that you aren't 100% committed to the team and your heart and head is elsewhere be considered selfish?
- MJL

If your heart isnt into it, why show up to begin with? Is your team better off with you playing with your mind elsewhere or with Halak in net who is focused on the game? This is why its a selfish decision.

Just because Rask is able to do this based on the agreement doesn't make what he's done here the right thing. He's left his teammates in a terrible spot, abruptly leaving two games into a playoff series, rather than considering his teammates and giving them enough time to get Halak ready to play. I'd want Rask gone if I was on his team, total lack of character on his part. Whining because there aren't any fans cheering him on, it's pathetic. Military guys are way tougher and deserve far more than these pathetic athletes.
- chelsea dagger

I wish people would stop making this false correlation to the military. If he is not committed to playing and doesn't want to be there, how is it the right thing to stay? If he feels personally that he has to be with his family and his new born son and chooses not to be locked up in a bubble then who are we to say it's not the right thing? Halak is a back up goaltender. He has been practicing and is a veteran. He is ready to play. Stating it's a lack of character is asinine. A man's responsibility is to his family first and foremost. If that's where he feels he needs to be and he gives up the opportunity to win the Cup, than that is a sign of good character. Not bad character. Sports is one thing. Life is another. Wake up people.

If your heart isnt into it, why show up to begin with? Is your team better off with you playing with your mind elsewhere or with Halak in net who is focused on the game? This is why its a selfish decision.
- aecliptic

A sense of obligation to the team and his teammates. Thinking you can tough through it and then finding out that it's just not in you to continue. It's not at all a selfish decision. It's a personal one that he is entitled to make. Which is why the team is supporting him.

A sense of obligation to the team and his teammates. Thinking you can tough through it and then finding out that it's just not in you to continue. It's not at all a selfish decision. It's a personal one that he is entitled to make. Which is why the team is supporting him.
- MJL

Definitely entitled to that, great career already, earned a lot of money, probably wants to focus more on being a father now instead of making the sacrifices required for the COVID era.

He should probably consider retiring.

As a mbr of the military, I’ve missed countless bdays, xmas’, and numerous other holidays while deployed or away on training.....and I make a tiny fraction of what Rask makes. I respect his decision, but he signed a contract to help the bruins win, and he’s not fulfilling that contract. He should be required to give back a % of his salary.

If I choose not to work, even for a legitimate family reason, I wouldn’t get paid....and neither would most people. So why should he get to keep his entire salary if he’s not keeping his end of the bargain?
- sensarmy_11

Sweeney said they talked before the season restarted and that Tuukka had reservations then but wanted to give it a whirl. This isn't normal playoffs you have no opportunity to see family etc. Would be tough on a new father I'm sure.
You realize players don't get paid in the playoffs right?

Ha ha. Rask basically just said "This sh*t is f*cking lame, im out." Props to the dude.

The players are not paid during the playoffs. Their salary is for the season, they don’t have one if and when their teams make the playoffs.
- Karine Hains

Ok thanks.

But what happened for the play-ins? It wasn’t playoffs so did players get paid regardless of whether they played?

Also, I thought there were playoff bonuses. Just doubt everyone is doing it for free.

I love the fact that per nhl Stanley cup name engraving rules if you play 41 regular season games or 1 game in final you get your name on the cup if you win. Tuukka... played exactly 41 games! If bruins win he goes down in history as a cup winner for this year! Gotta love it.

Ok thanks.

But what happened for the play-ins? It wasn’t playoffs so did players get paid regardless of whether they played?

Also, I thought there were playoff bonuses. Just doubt everyone is doing it for free.
- Queenie_5_hole

There is bonus money for winning a post season award such as the Conn Smythe but other than that, no playoff bonuses.