By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
Earlier this week, goaltender Kyle Keyser officially left the Boston Bruins organization to seek opportunities elsewhere in the global landscape. The 25-year-old undrafted netminder, who’s been with the B’s since October of 2017, signed a deal to play hockey overseas for the Chinese KHL team Kunlun Red Star. Per reports out of the KHL, the contract is a one-year, one-way deal for the 2024-24 campaign.
Keyser never got a chance to appear in an NHL game but did serve a valued need by being available in emergency situations. Kyle was a good pro for the organization regardless of his struggles with upper-body injuries throughout his tenure in the Bruins’ minor-pro systems. Wherever needed, either at the American Hockey League level or the ECHL, Keyser was eager to get any available ice as he continued to develop and capture NHL dreams.
Bruins scouts were on top of this player as they were close by evaluating former Bruins prospect forward Jack Studincka, with the pair playing for the Ontario Hockey League Oshawa Generals. When the Boston Bruins were forced to place former first-round selection Malcolm Subban on waivers, they lost him to the Vegas Golden Knights, who put in a claim and won his rights. The very next day, on October 4th, 2017, the gap in the Bruins organization’s developing crease was quickly filled with the entry-level contract of Keyser beginning his professional career.
In 73 career AHL games, all for Providence, Keyser posted a 29-27-19 record with a 2.83 goals-against-average and .902 save percentage. While needing placement in the lower ECHL with the Bruins “AA” minor-pro affiliates, Kyle went 16-19-4 with a 3.31 GAA and .891 Save%. Injuries are the most significant factor in Keyser’s decline in the developing ranks of the Bruins organization. Obviously, I hope everything continues to be good health-wise for him and his future hockey career, no matter where he is located in the world.
Kyser’s departure opens up an excellent opportunity for a goaltender like Ryan Bischel, who’s signed to an AHL-only one-year deal with the Providence Bruins organization. With the Bruins going with the seemingly Jeremey Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo at the NHL level for the upcoming 2024-25 season, Brandon Bussi and Michael DiPietro will be the AHL tandem and Bischel heading to the ECHL Maine Mariners for his first year of pro hockey. The ECHL is a great path for netminders as it gives them a tremendous opportunity to play many games and be that next guy if needed for emergencies if an injury happens with the Providence Bruins in the crease.
I wish Kyle nothing but the best in his worldwide journey playing professional hockey. This is a great chance for Keyser to get starting minutes and continue to build a case for pro opportunities back here in North America. Kyle was always gracious with his time when asked for interviews, and I know he’ll have a great personality for this new endeavor in the KHL with the China team. He’s an extremely hard worker, and you must give props to anybody eager to keep the professional hockey dream alive.
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