( Photo Credits: David Zalubowski/AP )

By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan

The Boston Bruins have claimed Jiri Patera off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks, the team announced on Wednesday. Patera, who signed a two-year, two-way contract worth with the Canucks on July 1st, spent last season in the Vegas Golden Knights system, primarily playing games with their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.

In five starts and six total games with the Golden Knights, the Prague, Czechia native ​​posted a 1-3-1 record with a 3.98 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. The 25-year-old has a 3-3-1 record in his NHL career with a 3.57 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.

With Henderson last season, the six-foot-three, 212-pound netminder recorded a 2.99 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage in 25 games. In 31 games in the 2022-23 season, Patera posted a 2.86 goals-against average with a .911 save percentage. Patera’s career stat line in the AHL consists of 85 games with a 37-40-6 record, a 2.92 goals-against average, and a .907 save percentage.

Patera, the 161st overall selection by Vegas in the 2017 NHL Draft, did not appear in a preseason game for the Canucks after signing with the team to be their third option. Patera will compete with Brandon Bussi and Michael DiPietro for the backup goalie position behind newly announced starter Joonas Korpisalo.