By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The upcoming offseason for the Boston Bruins could raise several questions about their goaltending depth. Of course, Jeremy Swayman is the anchor at the top, carrying Boston into the playoff race and committed to a long-term contract, but the situation behind him could become increasingly fluid.
Joonas Korpisalo has been the subject of trade rumors ever since he arrived via trade. Michael DiPietro has performed well for Providence in the AHL and is overdue for NHL minutes. Simon Zajicek and Luke Cavallin have also impressed in the minor leagues, but are both on one-year deals.
Beyond them, Philip Svedeback represents the lone unsigned goaltending prospect in Boston’s system. While he is a graduating senior at Providence College, he isn’t a guarantee to sign at season’s end. Should the Bruins look elsewhere for depth in the crease, the NCAA free agent market this spring presents several intriguing options:
Lawton Zacher – Jr – Northeastern
Zacher should be one of the top goaltenders available after his breakout season with the Huskies. The Brown University transfer was just named Second Team All-Hockey East, and is a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, after posting a 15-16-1 record with a 2.20 goals against average (GAA), .929 Save Percentage, and five shutouts.
The 6’2” netminder turned heads right away with a white-hot first month that was the driving force behind the Huskies’ surprise 7-1-0 start that saw them climb up to #11 in the country. His early run featured six straight wins, including shutouts over the likes of Denver and Boston College. While they soon came back down to earth, Zacher kept the team afloat while under siege, regularly facing 30 or more shots per game and recording 23.90 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
Even with a record below .500, Zacher proved he deserved his accolades by shouldering a heavy workload and keeping Northeastern competitive night after night. He should be a known commodity to the Bruins, and his profile as a calm, technical workhorse could transition smoothly to the pro level, where Boston has similarly leaned on Jeremy Swayman this season.
Alex Tracy – Sr – Minnesota St
There may not be a more seasoned goaltender on the market this spring than Alex Tracy. Heading into his second straight CCHA Tournament final this weekend, Tracy owns a 65-32-14 record with the Mavericks, including a 1.88 GAA for his career.
Tracy assumed the starting role midway through the 2023-24 season and has been the bedrock of the team ever since. He was named CCHA Goaltender of the Year and a Mike Richter Award finalist during his junior season, posting a 26-9-3 record with a 1.42 GAA, .946 save percentage, and five shutouts while leading the nation with 33.08 GSAx.
He’s also proven that he can perform against top competition beyond the CCHA. Tracy’s resume as a starting goaltender includes wins against blue blood programs like Michigan and North Dakota, a 42-save performance against Western Michigan (the eventual champions) in last year’s NCAA Tournament, and, most recently, a 32-save win for the US Collegiate Selects Team in the Spengler Cup semifinal against Sparta Prague.
With a catalog like that, it’s hard to argue that Alex Tracy wouldn’t be an option for several teams at the next level. If the Bruins find themselves with an opening in the offseason, he’s more than deserving of a call.
Max Lundgren – So – Merrimack
If you like big goaltenders, Lundgren is your guy. Merrimack’s second-year starter checks in at 6’5” and 230lbs. Only Michael Hrabal has him beat on height in Hockey East, and Lundgren is still 15lbs heavier than UMass’ giant. Lundgren’s stock has risen sharply in his first season as the undisputed starter for the Warriors. He’s played every minute of all 36 games, posting a 19-15-2 record with a 2.67 GAA, .915 save percentage, and ranking 14th nationally with a 10.56 GSAx.
His performance, particularly in the second half, is a major reason why Merrimack will be at TD Garden for the Hockey East semifinals this Friday. Since the start of the new year, Lundgren is 11-5-2 and has held opponents to two goals or fewer in nine starts, including a stunning upset win over top-seeded Providence in the Hockey East quarterfinals last weekend.
While Lundgren lacks the experience of the other goaltenders on this list, he isn’t short on technical skill or NHL interest. Mike McMahon previously ranked Lundgren as his top NCAA free agent goalie on the College Hockey Insider, citing his size and rebound control as standout qualities:
“The most impressive aspect of his game is his ability to make the first save and eliminate second chances. Rebounds are rarely an issue, and when they do occur, they’re typically steered to low-danger areas where opposing teams struggle to generate follow-up opportunities.”
For a Bruins organization with a long history of churning out NHL-quality goaltenders, Lundgren would be an attractive, toolsy developmental project to pluck from their backyard and fill any upcoming voids in the pipeline.
Albin Boija – Jr – Maine
Despite a disappointing junior season, Boija may still be the top collegiate goaltender on Boston’s radar. He first drew broad attention with an elite sophomore campaign, posting a 23-8-6 record, a 1.82 GAA, a 9.28 save percentage, and four shutouts, and was a finalist for both the Richter Award and Hockey East Goaltender of the Year (losing both to BC’s Jacob Fowler). That standout season also earned him an invitation to the Bruins Development Camp, where the Black n Gold Hockey contingent praised his performance.
Boija struggled to maintain that form this past year, regressing in nearly every statistical category. His record dipped to 10-7-3, ceding starts to CHL import freshman Mathis Rousseau, and his GAA and save percentage fell to 2.59 and .899. He matched his sophomore total of four shutouts, showing flashes that the high-end potential was still there.
Boija’s Bruins connections run deeper than a single Development Camp. His goalie coach at Maine, Alfie Michaud, has a long-standing relationship with Boston’s goalie development coach, Mike Dunham, who is also a Maine alum. Add in the presence of Jeremy Swayman, another Orono product, and the Bruins have both the familiarity with Maine goaltenders and proof that they can maximize their potential. All together, Boston has the clear inside track to fortify their organizational pipeline with another Black Bear.
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