10 Career-Defining Tuukka Rask Cards

When Tuukka Rask under-went surgery last year to repair a torn labrum in his hip, there was always a chance that the Boston Bruins netminder wouldn’t be able to continue his career. Still, it seemed wildly unfair when the 35-year-old had to curtail his comeback after just four games and announce his retirement.

“Today is a day that I hoped would never come,” Rask said in a statement. “But now that it’s here, I feel I owe it to everyone to hear it from me. Over these last few weeks, I’ve realized that my body is not responding the way it needs to for me to play at the level l expect of myself and that my teammates and Bruins fans deserve.

“Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from the game of hockey.”

The announcement put a cap on an outstanding, but divisive, career. The 2005 first-round pick finished his 15-season NHL run with 308 wins, 52 shutouts, a Vezina Trophy, a William Jennings Trophy, and a First Team NHL All-Star honor, along with two bronze medals earned representing Finland at the 2006 World Championship and 2014 Winter Olympics.

He also set franchise marks in wins and saves (14,345), and playoff wins (58), but it’s his career 2.28 goals-against average and .921 save percentage that put his legacy into sharp focus. Among all goalies who played at least 100 games over those 15 years, Rask ranks first in GAA and third in save percentage. If he’s not the best goalie of his generation, he belongs very near the top of the list.

“One of the elite goaltenders ever in the NHL. Not only with Boston,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I think his impact was he solidified the reputation of being a very good defensive team. You need a good goaltender to be a good defensive team. You need a culture. You need forwards that are willing to play 200-foot games. Defensemen that are willing to kill penalties. A lot goes into it. But it usually starts with the goaltender.”

Rask also was a member of Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup squad and led the team to Final appearances in 2013 and 2019. It’s those latter two misses that lead some to unfairly question his greatness. It speaks more to the expectations of the area’s sports fans, who were treated to a four-team era of excellence that spoiled them to the point that they weren’t willing to appreciate how far you have to go just to finish second than it does to Rask’s abilities.

The truth is that a team wins or loses the title, not one player. He deserves accolades for helping the team win three rounds each of those seasons, along with his share of the blame when they couldn’t seal the deal. Those losses are part of his story, but neither of them diminish Rask’s legacy.

With his retirement, there’s never been a better time to collect Rask. While there undoubtedly will be many more cards issued in the future, there are plenty to chase now. But with so many different options to pursue – more than 2,000 base, parallel, autograph, relic, and oddball singles in total – building out a Rask collection can be overwhelming. Looking for a little guidance? These 10 cards serve as an excellent representation of his playing career, making them the foundation of an enviable Rask PC.

2004-05 Finnish Cardset Tuukka Rask #47

Although his four appearances as a 17-year-old with Ilves Tampere of Finland’s SM-Liiga were just short of disastrous, scouts saw through the numbers and recognized Rask’s pro potential. He entered the 2005 draft as the top European netminding prospect, and was the second goalie selected (TOR, 21) behind only Carey Price (MON, 5). He also earned his European Rookie Card (ERC) that season with this memorably designed single. It’s a lightly graded card, with just three Gem Mint 10s in circulation.

2006-07 Between The Pipes Autographs Tuukka Rask #ATR2

Looking for an immediate upgrade in net, the Leafs approached the Bruins in 2006 about 2004 Calder Trophy winner Andrew Raycroft, offering CHL Goalie of the Year Justin Pogge in exchange. But in a decision that changed the course of two franchises, the Bruins asked for Rask instead. “The Rask trade isn’t necessarily the worst deal ever made by the Leafs,” wrote Steve Simmons, “but it’s certainly part of any conversation on the subject.” This SP is one of two autographed Rask singles in this goalie-themed product.

2007-08 The Cup Gold Rainbow Autographed Rookie Patches Tuukka Rask #172

Rask spent his first two pro seasons (2007-09) with Boston’s AHL affiliate in Providence, but an injury to Manny Fernandez opened the door for his first NHL win on Nov. 20, 2007. Fittingly, the 4-2 victory came at the expense of the team that traded him away, the Maple Leafs. The four games he played that season gave the green light to Upper Deck to produce 13 unique RCs for Rask and 76 cards in total. This parallel to his key RC from The Cup is limited to his jersey number and typically features a three-color swatch.

2008-09 SP Game Used SIGnificant Swatches Patches Tuukka Rask #SSTR

Rask appeared in only one NHL game during the 2008-09 season but he made it count. He stopped 35 shots to post his first career shutout, a 1-0 win over the New York Rangers. His importance was more evident in the card market, where he appeared on 49 NHL-licensed singles. More than 30 of those featured memorabilia or an autograph, including this sweet dual-swatch patch card. The print run of just 10 copies marks it as his second-scarcest card of the season, and arguably the most attractive.

2009-10 Between The Pipes Homegrown Silver Tuukka Rask #HG8

His first full NHL season was a memorable one. With Tim Thomas injured, Rask established himself as an elite starter, leading the league with a 1.97 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. Despite this, he somehow finished just seventh in Vezina voting and placed fourth for the Calder. He did, however, win the 7th Player Award, presented annually to the Bruin who exceeds the expectations of the fans. This card, which incongruously features a Bruins patch swatch with a Team Finland photo, was limited to nine copies and remains elusive.

2010-11 Upper Deck Bruins Stanley Cup Champions Tuukka Rask #25

Don’t let anyone tell you Tuukka never won a Cup. Although it was his partner who took home the Conn Smythe for his efforts between the pipes, the Bruins never would have emerged as 2011 champs without Rask’s heroic play along the way. This single was part of a 30+1-card commemorative set issued by UD shortly after the championship. It’s rarely offered in single form, but this one has two unique touches: an aftermarket signature and a BAS slab.

2012-13 Czech OFS Tuukka Rask #35

The departure of Thomas in the summer of 2012 gave Rask control of the Boston net, but first he took advantage of the NHL lockout to start the season with HC Škoda Plzen of the Czech Extraliga. The netminder played 17 games for the eventual champs before returning to the Bruins. This card is one of the most unique pieces in any Rask collection. While it’s not particularly rare, it is rarely seen in North American collections. It’s interesting that the manufacturer pushed the (essentially accurate) rookie angle, adding the notation on both sides of the card.

2013 Panini National Convention Holo Lava Flow Tuukka Rask #23

The 2013-14 season would rank as the most decorated of Rask’s career. He posted stellar numbers (2.04 GAA, .930 save percentage) and topped the league with seven shutouts which led to a Vezina Trophy and a First Team All-Star nod. The year kicked off with this unique single, one of two parallels to an exclusive National Convention card given away at the Panini booth. Holo Lava Flow cards were limited to just 99 copies, with Cracked Ice versions numbered to only 25. Both are rarely offered for sale.

2017-18 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Skills Shield Tuukka Rask #USSTR

The season saw Rask deliver the single finest stretch of his legendary career. He posted a 19-0-2 record with a .941 save percentage and 1.61 GAA during a torrid 21-game point streak. Appropriately then we present this spectacular 1/1 from Ultimate Collection. The card features the NHL shield patch carved from one of the jerseys Tuukka wore during the 2017 NHL All-Star Skills Competition, giving it the kind of curb appeal few singles can match. Surprisingly, this was his only appearance at the midseason classic but it was a fitting tribute to another outstanding season.

2018-19 Upper Deck Game Dated Moments Tuukka Rask #53

There’ll be some lively debate over whether Rask is Hall of Fame-worthy (he is), but there’s no doubt his number belongs in the rafters at TD Garden. On Jan. 1, 2019, Rask passed Tiny Thompson for most games played by a goalie for Boston. A month later, his 1-0 shutout victory over the Blackhawks gave him his franchise-record 253rd career victory, securing his place in Bruins history. This card does a great job of capturing this moment and is fairly tough to track down. Reportedly 499 copies were sold on the ePack site, but not all of those were converted into hard form.