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Bruins GM says success makes Tuukka Rask easier to sign

raskspitgetty

The Boston Bruins made a gutsy decision with pending restricted free agent Tuukka Rask going into 2013: let him prove he’s worth a new contract.

While he’s been successful when given opportunities (aside from that one series against the Philadelphia Flyers, maybe?), the 26-year-old’s resume was still pretty light. GM Peter Chiarelli told CSNNE.com that the Finnish netminder has proven himself with this deep playoff run.

“I’m happy for him that he’s playing well and he’s helping the team,” said Chiarelli. “It’s always easier to sign these guys after success. He’s showing some resiliency, which I like, and some durability, which I like.”

While Chiarelli indicates that it will be easier to make the decision to keep him, it certainly won’t be cheaper. The Bruins have the leverage advantage that comes with Rask being a restricted free agent, yet his price tag likely goes up with each playoff victory.

Rask is likely the headliner of an offseason with some significant questions, particularly when it comes to fellow free agents such as Nathan Horton, Jaromir Jagr, Andrew Ference and Anton Khudobin.

Regardless, Chiarelli likes that Rask is coming through in plenty of make-or-break situations.

“I liked [Rask’s] big saves,” Chiarelli said. “We had some real good games where, I’d have to go back and look, but I think we had a chance in every game. The last game, he had those two saves in the third. Not part of sustained pressure. You see a bunch of saves, it’s like point-blank [Ryan] Callahan to [Rick] Nash. Those are big saves. His ability to bounce back from the game before ... I like that. It really is about the surges. I like that we’re seeing more of the same.”

Seeing more of it in 2013-14 and beyond could prove costly.