Bruins’ Goalie Gamble: Hope or Hardship Ahead?

Following the 2023-24 season, it became apparent that the Boston Bruins would part ways with their goaltending duo of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. General Manager Don Sweeney decided to trade Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators, but the return raised some eyebrows.

In exchange, Sweeney received a 2024 first-round draft pick, forward Mark Kastelic, who has integrated well into the Bruins’ fourth line, and goalie Joonas Korpisalo. The trade did not meet the expectations of Bruins fans at the time, and they now find themselves dealing with the fallout of the Senators’ poor decision-making.

Joonas Korpisalo has received criticism for having one of the least favorable goalie contracts in the league. According to James Mirtle of The Athletic, Korpisalo topped the list of the worst goalie contracts, not through his own fault. The Senators signed him to a five-year, $20 million deal with an average annual value of $4 million. He had only one standout season and struggled significantly last season, posting a record of 21-26-4 with a 3.27 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage.

The Senators aimed to rid themselves of this contract quickly, and Sweeney was there to assist. However, it’s worth noting that Ottawa is retaining $1 million of Korpisalo’s salary, leaving the Bruins responsible for $3 million.

Boston is optimistic that goalie coach Bob Essensa can help Korpisalo improve his performance. So far, his results over two games have been what could be anticipated. The Bruins have a buyout option, though it seems unlikely to be exercised immediately. If Brandon Bussi continues to excel with the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League, Sweeney might face a critical decision.

Sweeney had to allocate funds during the offseason, and while he did, the prospect of absorbing $3 million this season and possibly in the future for Korpisalo raises questions about whether retaining Ullmark would have been a wiser choice. As it stands, Bruins fans are wishing that their new goalie plays fewer than 25 games in the 2024-25 season, as any more could signal trouble in net with Korpisalo.

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