Rask ready for one-year showcase, Khokhlachev heading to Russia

Tuukka Rask/Photo by S. Bradley

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli today made official a couple rumors that have dominated the world of Bruins news the last several days.

Tuukka Rask has signed a one-year deal for $3.5 million to stay with Boston, while Alexander Khokhlachev is going to play in the KHL next season.

Both deals with be filed July 1.

Rask, 25, would have been a restricted free agent July 1. The short deal gives Rask a chance to strut his stuff for one year as Boston’s No. 1 goaltender without Tim Thomas around to muck up the works.

“You’d have to ask Tuukka, but he wants to prove that he’s a No. 1 goalie for the Bruins for a long time,” Chiarelli said. “So this was the easiest way to set the stage for that. And Tuukka’s been a really good goalie for us. But for one year, he hasn’t been the No. 1 goalie. And the stage is set for him. And we’ll see where it takes us.”

As for Khokholachev, he’s going to play for Spartak Moscow, which employs his father as general manager. Chiarelli said that after one year the plan is for the forward to return to North American and rejoin the Bruins organization. His contract would then begin its term.