Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask broke his silence Thursday in an interview with the Boston Herald, discussing his decision to opt out of the playoffs and saying he doesn't want to play for any team other than the Bruins.
Apparently he also thinks there is very little chance he will be playing for another team.
WEEI's Greg Hill also talked to Rask at Shawn Thornton's Putts & Punches charity golf tournament, and relayed some of their conversation during Friday morning's show. (You can watch the segment in the video above or listen to it by clicking here.)
"What he said to me yesterday was that there’s virtually zero chance that he is not playing for the Bruins next season," Hill said.
"He expects to be able to be here for an extended period of time in the future and then pass the torch. He used the phrase ‘pass the torch’ to whoever is next."
Rask's no-trade protections reportedly expire on Friday, so whether or not he gets traded is kind of out of his hands. However, he is certainly making it clear that he doesn't want to play anywhere else, although he hasn't gone so far as to threaten retirement if he is dealt.
Saying he wants to remain with the Bruins for "an extended period of time" is also interesting. Rask is entering the final year of his contract, and he himself had left the door open when it comes to possibly retiring when his deal is up.
These comments make it sound like that is not his plan, though, and that he would like to get some sort of extension done with the Bruins.