On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Boston Bruins introduced that they’d claimed goaltender Jiri Patera off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks.
This makes three gamers that the Bruins have acquired from the Canucks earlier than the common season begins, and the second goaltender they’ve acquired within the offseason, the opposite being Joonas Korpisalo, after all.
Associated: When Ought to Bruins Followers Begin Panicking About Jeremy Swayman?
Patera will barely make a dent in Boston’s payroll as he solely carries with him a cap hit of $775,000 in each the 2024-25 season and the 2025-26 season as he was signed by Vancouver within the offseason. On prime of him being a discount financially, he’s additionally on a two-way contract, which provides the Bruins the flexibility to ship him to the American Hockey League (AHL) if want be and belief the goalies of their system.
This actually begs the query, what’s their plan transferring ahead with Patera and what does it imply about their angle in the direction of their present state of affairs in objective?
The Transfer Additionally Exhibits Desperation on Boston’s Finish
By buying Patera, Boston reveals that they aren’t solely prepared to wait out Jeremy Swayman and hope he comes down on his asking worth, however that they’re determined to have a goalie on the roster who has NHL expertise. Patera doesn’t have a lot, however it’s greater than each Michael DiPietro and Brandon Bussi.
It additionally reveals an absence of religion that the Bruins have in Bussi for the time being. Bussi has had a lackluster preseason to say the least, and is trending in the direction of beginning the season with AHL Windfall, sadly.
With no different netminders within the system with NHL expertise outdoors of DiPietro, who has simply three video games underneath his belt, except Boston indicators Swayman earlier than the season begins, it seems that Patera will begin the season because the backup to Korpisalo in internet.
Patera has solely performed in eight video games on the NHL (seven begins), and holds a 3-3-1 file. He additionally has a 3.57 objectives in opposition to common (GAA), and .902 save share SV%.) The majority of Patera’s profession, nevertheless, has been within the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights.
With the Silver Knights within the 2023-24 season, he performed in 25 video games, posting a 2.99 GAA and an .893 SV%.
Whereas Patera might not be essentially the most excellent possibility for the Bruins, they should take advantage of out of a fully horrendous state of affairs. Each goaltenders shall be model new to the system and the workforce, and should develop chemistry with their teammates. Understand that the common season begins in 5 days.
Isn’t Patera Only a Youthful, Much less Skilled Model of Swayman?
The humorous half about Boston caliming Patera is that he’s a really comparable participant to Swayman; nevertheless, there may be one factor that stands out as a distinction: NHL expertise. Swayman has performed much more NHL video games than Patera, however once you have a look at the way in which they line up body sensible and age sensible, they’re very comparable.
Swayman stands at 6-foot-3, and Patera is 6-foot-2. Swayman weighs in at 195 kilos, and Patera weighs in at 209 kilos. Swayman is 25 years outdated and turns 26 in November, and Patera is 25 years outdated and turns 26 in February. Not solely are the Bruins getting a really similar-looking goaltender, however they’re getting him for a discount as effectively, particularly with Swayman trying to set the marketplace for future goalies.
Patera almost definitely signed with Vancouver in search of a possibility to interrupt into the goaltender room and take over the backup function behind Thatcher Demko. With the uncertainty in Boston surrounding its personal goalie room, and its personal inexperience, it leaves this author to marvel if the Bruins will cut up duties between Korpisalo and Patera, simply as they did with Swayman and the departed Linus Ullmark.
What’s Subsequent on Boston’s Slate?
Boston’s subsequent preseason recreation is tonight in Quebec Metropolis, QC the place they tackle the Los Angeles Kings. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.
