Bruins’ Goalie Gamble: Will Korpisalo Redefine Expectations?

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Following the 2023-24 season, it became evident that the Boston Bruins were set to break up their goaltending duo of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. General Manager Don Sweeney traded Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators, but the return raised some eyebrows.

In the deal, Sweeney acquired a 2024 first-round draft pick, forward Mark Kastelic, who has integrated well into the Bruins’ fourth line, and goalie Joonas Korpisalo. This return did not meet the expectations of Bruins fans, who now find themselves dealing with the repercussions of Ottawa’s management missteps.

Korpisalo’s contract has been ranked among the worst in the league. James Mirtle from The Athletic listed the twelve least favorable goalie contracts, placing Korpisalo in the top spot. This rating is not due to Korpisalo’s own performance but rather the Senators’ decision to give him a five-year, $20 million deal with a $4 million average annual value. Aside from one standout season, his performance has faltered, with last season being particularly dismal given the contract he signed.

During his time with the Senators in the 2023-24 season, Korpisalo recorded a 21-26-4 record, with a goals against average (GAA) of 3.27 and a save percentage (SV%) of .890. The Senators were eager to offload this contract, and Sweeney facilitated the move. Notably, the Senators are 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 rebound, though the early results over two games have been as anticipated. The Bruins have a buyout option for Korpisalo, although it seems unlikely they will pursue that immediately. Should Brandon Bussi continue performing well with the Providence Bruins in the AHL, Sweeney may face a critical decision.

Sweeney had to allocate funds during the offseason, which he did; however, if the Bruins are committed to absorbing $3 million for Korpisalo this season and possibly beyond, it raises questions about whether keeping Ullmark would have been a better strategy. In the meantime, Bruins fans are hoping their newly acquired goalie plays fewer than 25 games in the 2024-25 season, or concerns about the goaltending situation with Korpisalo could escalate.

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