Bruins to Sign Goalie Jaroslav Halak to Two-Year Deal
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Boston Bruins have found a new backup for Tuukka Rask. They are signing former New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a two-year deal, according to multiple reports.
Fox Sports’ Andy Strickland first reported via Twitter on Sunday morning that Halak would be signing with the B’s, which Elliotte Friedman later confirmed.
This comes on the heels of the news that Anton Khudobin is leaving the Bruins to sign with the Stars for two years and around $2.5 million per season.
Halak comes to the Bruins with plenty of experience as a starter. He’s started 418 games in his career, including 54 for the Islanders last season. However, he posted an ugly .908 save percentage and 3.19 goals against average in his final season with the Isles.
His best season came in 2011-12 with the St. Louis Blues. Halak started 46 games and went 26-12-7, posting a .926 save percentage and 1.97 GAA. He won the William Jennings Trophy along with Brian Elliott for allowing the league’s fewest goals, and finished sixth in the Vezina Trophy voting.
Halak will be able to spell Rask for extended stretches whenever necessary. Although his signing will invite speculation from the “#TradeRask” crowd that they’re going to make him the new starter, a two-year deal makes that highly unlikely. He could also benefit from a lighter workload as the No. 2 netminder after starting the same amount of games as Rask last season.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
