BOSTON – Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has talked about retirement in the past, but he said he isn’t ready to walk away quite yet.

“So far, I still have that passion of winning and playing,” the 33-year-old said Monday during a video call with Boston media. “That drives me. The winning drives me. I haven’t put a number into it, at what age it might be, but we’ll see. Maybe it’s 36, 37, maybe it’s 42. You never know. (Zdeno Chara) is still playing and he’s getting older (43), so maybe I’ll be the goalie who plays until 45, maybe not.”

He has one season left on an eight-year, $56 million contract he signed in July 2013.

Rask was the backup goaltender on the 2011 Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup but lost as a starter in 2013 and 2019. Hoisting that cup remains a motivating factor for him.

“This city is known for winning championships and your success is measured by winning championships, and I’ve gotten to the Finals with the team twice as a playing goalie — didn’t win — but I think it’s still a great accomplishment to reach that point, to go to the Finals,” he said.

“Obviously, it would be nice to be known as a champion in those years, but it didn’t happen. We just have to live with that. I think I’ve played a good career so far and hopefully there’s some more years left and even maybe a championship in the future.”

Rask was the No. 21 overall draft pick in 2005, selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but was traded one year later and has spent his entire NHL career in Boston. After brief appearances the prior two seasons, he joined the Bruins for good in the 2009-10 season.

He won the Vezina Trophy in 2014 as the league’s top goaltender and was a candidate to win again this season before NHL play was suspended in March. Among goaltenders with 13 or more appearances, he led the NHL with a 2.12 goals-against average and a was second with a .929 save percentage.

“I know that this summer I can talk about a possible extension with the Bruins, so we’ll see where that goes. I definitely don’t have thoughts about retirement or anything like that,” he said, clarifying an earlier report.

–Field Level Media

BOSTON – Tuukka Rask plans to discuss a new deal with the Boston Bruins at the end of the season.

Rask is in the final season of an eight-year, $56 million contract and leads the league with a 2.12 goals-against average. But reports of his imminent retirement led to speculation the currently suspended season could be his last. Rask himself said retirement was “always a possibility.”

But his tone seemed to shift Tuesday.

“I’m sure we’re going to have good conversations with (Bruins general manager Don Sweeney) after this season and go from there,” Rask said on “The Greg Hill Show” on WEEI 93.7 FM. “But I’m only 34 (when my contract expires), so it’s not too old. So I might play another year or two and then go from there.

“But I don’t want to promise anything either way because you never know what’s going to happen.”

Rask has a 291-158-64 career record with 50 shutouts. He sparked concern this season could be his last when he told the Boston Globe on March 22 “I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play.”

On Tuesday, Rask said he was undecided.

“I haven’t made any decision in any direction yet. Obviously, we’re not even playing hockey right now, so that’ll be in the future,” he said. “But it’s definitely not in my mind right now. Just trying to take care of the family as of now and go back to hockey whenever that happens and then go from there.”

–Field Level Media

BOSTON – Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask acknowledged the “possibility” that he could retire when his contract expires after next season.

“I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play,” the 2014 Vezina Trophy recipient told The Boston Globe. “We’ll see. Always a possibility.”

Rask, who is playing in the seventh season of an eight-year, $56 million contract, cited his growing family as one reason for possibly calling it a career.

“Just be home. The wear and tear of the travel with two, almost three kids now, makes you think,” said Rask, who is expecting his third child in April.

“I love to do it. But it’s tough.”

Rask has won more games than any goaltender in Bruins’ franchise history. He sports a 291-158-64 record with 50 shutouts, a 2.26 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in 536 career games.

The 33-year-old owns a 26-8-6 mark with a league-best 2.12 goals-against average in 41 games this season. His five shutouts and .929 save percentage are tied for second-best in the NHL.

Rask won a Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011, in a secondary role to Tim Thomas. Rask also helped the club to two more Stanley Cup Finals appearances since then, although the club lost to Chicago (2013) and St. Louis (2019).

Jaroslav Halak is the other Bruins’ goaltender on the roster. Halak, who turns 35 in May, can be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

–Field Level Media

BOSTON – Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask was granted a leave of absence from the club, the team announced. The Bruins said Rask left the team due to a “personal matter.”

Boston general manager Don Sweeney told reporters the leave of absence wasn’t health related. He also asked for privacy on behalf of Rask.

Rask, 31, is just 4-4-0 with a 3.05 goals-against average in eight appearances (seven starts) this season.

He won more than 30 games in each of the previous five seasons with his GAA ranging from 2.04 in 2013-14 to 2.56 in 2015-16.

Rask won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in 2013-14 when he went 36-15-6 with seven shutouts.

Overall, Rask is 242-141-53 with a 2.27 GAA and 41 shutouts in parts of 12 seasons with the Bruins.

Jaroslav Halak will see most of the playing time between the pipes with Rask away. Halak is 4-1-2 with a 1.96 GAA in nine appearances (eight starts).

–Field Level Media