By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
The Boston Bruins, a franchise known for cultivating fierce internal competition, have opened the door for Michael DiPietro to claim a coveted National Hockey League roster spot as Jeremy Swayman’s backup goaltender. Yet, as the 27-year-old two-time American Hockey League Goaltender of the Year steps into the spotlight, the pressure is on to prove he’s ready for the next level amid a shortened preseason and the always-demanding expectations in Boston.
Boston created this path to the highest league in the world when the team traded veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round draft pick. While Korpisalo did his job in Boston in a backup role, his arrival to the Bruins blocked the natural path for two up-and-coming Bruins goaltenders.
Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney got squeezed into taking on the Korpisalo contract (25% Retained) because the Ottawa Senators knew how bad Boston wanted to get back to drafting in the first round. By taking on the Korpisalo contract with already limited NHL-level roster spots, the team blocked DiPietro’s forward progress, who’ll get his chance this fall, and ultimately showed the door to former Bruins prospect standout Brandon Bussi. Congrats to Bussi, by the way, but the B’s needed to choose either DiPetro or the former NCAA Western Michigan product, ultimately going with DiPietro.
DiPietro, a former third-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in 2017, has been with the Bruins organization since before the 2022-23 season. His journey exemplifies perseverance: starting in the ECHL with the Maine Mariners, where he posted a 19-9-0 record, a 2.61 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage over 29 games. His strong play earned him a promotion to the AHL’s Providence Bruins, where he’s since amassed a remarkable 79-25-10 career record, boasting a 2.15 GAA and .925 save percentage across 116 games.
Despite these accolades, nothing is guaranteed in Boston, especially in the Bruins’ crease with limited spots. The Bruins have a storied tradition of bringing in experienced veterans to push their prospects, and this offseason was no exception. The organization signed netminder Jiri Patera in free agency—a move designed to ensure DiPietro earns every minute he might play in the NHL.
Patera, a Praha, Czechia, native, is also 27 and is no stranger to the Bruins, having previously been claimed off waivers from Vancouver before returning to the Canucks after a brief stint with Boston, appearing in zero games for either the NHL club or the team’s top minor-pro affiliate, the Providence Bruins. While his NHL experience is limited, much like DiPietro’s, goaltending coaches Bob Essensa and Mike Dunham see untapped potential in Patera’s game, which he honed primarily with the Abbotsford Canucks—a squad DiPietro knows well from his own time in the AHL.
The upcoming training camp, set to begin at the Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton on Wednesday, September 16th, promises a fierce competition between DiPietro and Patera for the backup job behind Swayman. Fans won’t have to wait long to see the new-look crease in action, as Boston’s preseason kicks off at TD Garden against the Washington Capitals on Sunday, September 20th.
I can see DiPietro getting into two of the upcoming four preseason games, while his combatant in the crease in training camp, Patera, gets in action once to prepare and make a case for himself. Season starter Jeremy Swayman could get a preseason start as he prepares to hopefully return to Vezina nominee status from last season and B’s 100-point campaign.
For DiPietro, this is a defining moment—a chance to prove that his minor-league dominance can translate to NHL reliability. For Patera, it’s an opportunity for redemption and to show he can seize the moment in a city that values hard work and resilience.
As the preseason battle intensifies, Bruins fans are encouraged to watch closely, eager to see which netminder rises to the occasion and earns the trust of one of hockey’s most demanding markets. All upcoming Boston Bruins training camp on-ice activities at the Warrior Ice Arena are open to the public, with paid parking below the Bruins’ training facility or free parking options nearby if you’re willing to take the time to drive around to find one.
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