Veteran Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask announced his retirement from the NHL after 15 seasons on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old returned from hip surgery this season, but he only appeared in four games before opting to hang up his pads for good.
"Today is a day that I hoped would never come. But now that it's here, I feel I owe it to everyone to hear it from me," Rask said in a statement.
He continued: "Over these last few weeks, I've realized that my body is not responding the way it needs to for me to play at the level I expect of myself and that my teammates and Bruins fans deserve. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from the game of hockey."
Rask was a first-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2005. He was dealt to the Bruins the following year, where he authored a Hall of Fame worthy career.
The Finland native made 564 appearances for the Bruins, finishing his career with the fourth-best save percentage in league history among qualified goaltenders.
| Rank | Player | Years | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dominik Hasek* | 1990-2008 | .922 |
| 2 | Johnny Bower* | 1953-70 | .921 |
| 3 | Ken Dryden* | 1970-79 | .921 |
| 4 | Tuukka Rask | 2007-22 | .921 |
| 5 | Ben Bishop | 2008-20 | .920 |
*Denotes Hall of Famer
Rask also posted a career 2.28 goals against average, won a Stanley Cup in 2011, and captured the Vezina Trophy in 2014. He's Boston's all-time leader in games played, wins, and goals saved above average.
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