Tuukka Rask opts out: ‘Boston Bruins are in full support’ according to GM Don Sweeney

Unlike the rest of the hockey world Saturday, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he wasn’t shocked at Tuukka Rask’s decision to opt out and leave the Bruins in the middle of the first round of the playoffs.

Sweeney indicated Rask had family concerns that hadn’t been made public even before Saturday’s announcement.

“We understand completely where Tuukka is coming from. I don’t think it’s any big surprise to us to be honest with you. We’re privy to more information than the general public is,” Sweeney said. “This has been a difficult decision for Tuukka. The Boston Bruins are in full support of why he made this decision.”

Sweeney said there was no specific family emergency and gave Rask credit for attempting to participate.

“All of our players, we knew this would be a mental challenge, especially players with families. In Tuukka’s case he has a newborn at home with two other young girls, and he just felt that he needs to be home with them at this particular time,” Sweeney said. “You can’t control the timeline of when the playoffs resumed. Give Tuukka a hell of a lot of credit for trying to persevere through this and initiate the process to come up and be with his teammates because first and foremost that’s what he wants to do, but the priorities are in the right order and this is what he has to do at this time.

“I mean again he didn’t really give us an indication that this would absolutely going to happen,” Sweeney added. “In conversations with all of our players, you saw with Steve Kampfer making an early decision, you’re seeing players in different sports make family decisions, and during the course of the time up here it’s been increasingly more and more difficult for Tuukka to mentally stay where he needs to be and ultimately made a decision that he felt he had to be in a different place. And again, yeah, I think we all understand that these are trying times for everybody. The NHL’s done a fabulous job in protecting the players’ health and safety but the priority for Tuukka at this point in time rightfully so has to be his family and we support that.”

Sweeney said he didn’t have any indication whether other players might be considering similar moves.

“You never know whether or not there’s a domino effect in some of these decisions. Everybody’s individual situation will be taken as it comes and again we’ll try and do our best to communicate with the players in case there are things at home that they’re concerned about that we may be able to help with,” he said. “In this case you’re not able to help because Tuukka feels he needs to be there and in support of his own family, so we understand that.”

Related content:

Bruins’ Tuukka Rask having a hard time summoning playoff intensity in empty arena – ‘It just feels like an exhibition game’ | Matt Vautour

Bruins’ coach Bruce Cassidy said the chance to win a Stanley Cup creates playoff atmosphere even with no fans

Bruins’ Tuukka Rask not sure he’ll play every playoff game: ‘I’d be surprised if you see goalies play every minute’

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.