The Boston Bruins acquired Joonas Korpisalo as a backup option during Jeremy Swayman’s contract negotiations. However, the Bruins were aware that Korpisalo wasn’t an elite goaltender, as evidenced by his 3.27 GAA and .890 save percentage from last season—numbers that don’t reflect those of a starting goalie. In his season debut with the Bruins, he allowed six goals on 35 shots.
Despite this disappointing outing, his head coach, Jim Montgomery, defended him, emphasizing that Korpisalo wasn’t to blame for the loss. Montgomery pointed to the team’s lackluster defense, stating, “Korpisalo was not a problem tonight. It was the people in front of him. You can’t give up four backdoor tap-ins and expect your goalie to make save after save. He made a lot of saves on breakaways. He was good tonight.”
According to Bruins Insider, the team views Korpisalo as a project for goaltending coach Bob Essensa and intends to invest time in his development. However, the outlet also mentioned that if he fails to improve, trading him for a more reliable backup could be a viable option. Ultimately, the Bruins are content with Swayman as their primary goaltender, recognizing that a top goalie is essential for winning championships. Still, if they seek additional wins during the season, Korpisalo may not meet their expectations.
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