Tuukka Rask signs with AHL's Providence Bruins to begin comeback from hip injury

Tuukka Rask, the Boston Bruins' all-time leaders in wins and starts as a goaltender, is taking a major step toward returning to the team by starting for the AHL's Providence Bruins.

Providence announced Thursday that Rask joined the team on a tryout agreement, and was set to start Friday night, although COVID postponements will likely mean his return comes next week.

Rask's return comes nearly six months after he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. Rask revealed the injury shortly after the Bruins were eliminated in the 2021 playoffs by the New York Islanders. While his contract expired after the season,the 34-year-old goaltender said he had no intention of shopping his talents on the open market.

"I'm not going to play for anyone else than the Bruins. This is our home," Rask said in a June 2021 press conference. "We have three kids. The kids enjoy it here. They have friends in school. We have friends. At this point of my life and my career, I don't see any reason to go anywhere else, especially with the health I'm looking at now and a recovery time of five or six months."

Rask joined the Bruins in 2007 and has started 539 career regular season games and 104 playoff games for the franchise. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2014 recognizing the NHL's top goaltender.

Without Rask, Boston is 17-10-2 and fourth place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins have relied on the combination of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman in net.