By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Maine Mariners had their 2025-26 season end with a seven-game series loss to the Wheeling Nailers in the North Division Finals. However, the Mariners still had the greatest single season in franchise history, winning their first playoff series and setting a new franchise record for points with 93. A big reason the Mariners accomplished both team milestones was goaltender Luke Cavallin.
This past offseason, Cavallin joined the Boston Bruins organization and spent time in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins and in the ECHL with the Mariners. Cavallin mainly spent time in the ECHL. This season in Maine, Cavallin recorded an 18-10-3 record with a 2.35 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Based on how the Bruins organization looks and Cavallin’s growth, there is reason to believe he could become Providence’s top goaltender for next season.
The first reason is because of goaltenders Joonas Korpisalo and Michael DiPietro. Korpisalo’s second season in Boston was worse than his first season. In 31 games played, with 28 of them being starts, Korpisalo finished with a 3.15 GAA and 15 losses combined this season. Two stats that were worse than last season. At times, Korpisalo became unplayable for Boston due to his inconsistency. At 32 years old, Korpisalo faces uncertainty in Boston.
Meanwhile, DiPietro has won the Aldedge “Baz” Bastien Award for the past two seasons in Providence. Along with that, DiPietro won the 2026 AHL MVP. Korpisalo has two years remaining on his contract, while DiPietro has one year remaining on his at 26 years old. With two years remaining on his contract, Boston could try to trade Korpisalo, knowing the team has an AHL goaltender who has proved himself deeply and can be Jeremy Swayman’s backup.
If Boston trades Korpisalo to give DiPietro a shot at the full-time backup spot to Swayman, someone has to be Providence’s top guy in between the pipes. That is where Cavallin can be the guy. Cavallin played in eight games for Providence this season, winning six and posting a 2.47 GAA and a .910 save percentage. Simon Zajicek was the main backup for DiPietro this season in Providence. In 21 games played this season, Zajicek won 14 games and posted a 2.44 GAA and a .915 save percentage, but he hasn’t experienced full-time AHL play at 24 years old. DiPietro played in every game for Providence in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Brad Arvanitis also had progress with the Mariners this season, recording a 22-11-3 record with a 2.17 GAA and a .929 save percentage in 38 games played. Despite having better numbers than Cavallin in the regular season, Arvanitis underperformed when it mattered most in the 2026 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. It was there when Cavallin seized control of the starting job for the Mariners over Arvanitis in the playoffs.
Arvanitis played in four games for the Mariners in the 2026 playoffs, winning two, and both of his losses came in overtime. Arvanitis finished the playoffs with a 3.17 GAA and a .892 save percentage. Meanwhile, Cavallin played in ten games and stood tall. Cavallin finished with a 2.02 GAA and a .924 save percentage, and won five games. Cavallin played in six of the seven games against the Nailers in the second round, including three consecutive starts from Games 3 through 5, which is rare for a goaltender to start in three consecutive games. However, Cavallin helped the Mariners win all three of those games during that stretch.
Both Cavallin and Zajicek are restricted free agents this offseason, and Boston can try its best to keep both of them. However, given the goaltending on each roster, an uncertain future with Korpisalo, which could lead to DiPietro getting NHL time, Cavallin has shown why he can be Providence’s top goaltender next season. At 25 years old, Cavallin’s goaltending is on the rise in the Bruins organization after a great 2026 playoff performance with the Mariners.
Leave a Reply