Bruins Need to Examine Future With Joonas Korpisalo In July

The Boston Bruins are in a predicament. It may not seem so at face value, but they have a decision to make. That is, whether or not to keep veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo in the fold.

As the retool takes shape, the team looks to the future, and Korpisalo represents a contemporary solution in the present, but he isn’t a long-term option.

In 2024-25, he finished the season with a record of 11-10-3, 2.90 goals-against average (GAA), and a .893 save percentage (SV%). Not the production of an elite goaltender, but no one expected him to be.

Korpisalo was brought over in trade from the Ottawa Senators, where he had signed a five-year, $4 million average annual value contract. His ability to fit the organization’s needs has been brought into question.

Per Natural Stat Trick, he has a negative-7.18 goals saved above average (GSAA) in 31 games this season as a Bruin, and if you know puck, this isn’t a heartening fact.

A positive GSAA (higher the number the better) is the number of goals the goalie has saved compared to a league average goalie. Negative GSAA numbers indicate that the goalie is performing worse than a league average goalie would.

Korpisalo’s contract has been difficult to trade in the past because of a modified no-trade clause attached. General manager Don Sweeney owes it to the team to find a solution to the issue. As someone willing to spend on talent, his creativity should be put to use to find an ideal situation for Korpisalo, especially if he puts on a spectacular performance beyond April.

With Michael DiPietro’s possible promotion in the future, should the Bruins continue to entertain the idea of Korpisalo as a meaningful backup or as a trade chip to bolster their future?

“The Bruins would love to somehow trade him and call up [Michael] DiPietro, but trust me, they’re going to need to sweeten the pot with a pick or prospect. Factor in a tight goalie market, and this is a tall task.” – RG.org

The New York Rangers have a spot open with Jonathan Quick’s retirement, and with GM Chris Drury’s love of collecting veterans like infinity stones may pan out to be a successful gambit for Sweeney and the Bruins.

Bruins Need to Put Korpisalo’s Production Under a Microscope

Korpisalo was brought in nothing more than to be a backup to Swayman; his production since he arrived in Boston deserves to be examined for his ability to contribute to the team’s long-term success.

His record wearing the Bruins crest is: 58 games played, 52 of those started, 25-19-9, 3.03 GAA, and a .894 SV%.

As of April 1, in his last 12 starts, he had a record of 7-1-4, in which we saw Korpisalo’s output peak. But the truth of the story is, he isn’t the same goaltender we saw in Columbus; the role has changed.

We don’t begrudge Korpisalo his recent successes, during his run with the Bruins in 2025-26, but with prospects who could make a difference in the American Hockey League (AHL), the team needs to weigh their options of keeping someone who may not be able to stay consistent.

No longer is he the same player who made 85 saves in five overtimes against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it’ll be something Sweeney will have to reckon with in the offseason, should the Bruins fail to make a deep run.

“They’ve been trying hard to find a dance partner and move him,” an NHL executive source told RG recently. “As it has been each time they’ve put feelers out there, his performance and cap hit have been the main issue. Some teams are looking for depth and an upgrade in their backup position, but Korpisalo is not that this season.”

The trade that brought Korpisalo to Boston has bolstered the team’s future, with the 25th overall selection in 2024, Dean Letourneau developing nicely in the NCAA.

Other additions, including tough-guy Mark Kastelic, have been a problem for other teams to solve in the Bruins’ bottom-six. Korpisalo’s contributions in the last two seasons should be weighed against the direction of the club, and that includes the value of his contract, with $8 million remaining to be paid out.

His contributions, albeit more meaningful this season, aren’t unnoticed, but we question the future he has in Boston.