By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
This offseason, the Providence Bruins have seen drastic changes to their roster, both offensively and defensively, after having the American Hockey League’s best record in 2026. One area that changed significantly this offseason was goaltending. Michael DiPietro won back-to-back Aldege “Baz” Bastien trophies, along with winning the AHL MVP in 2026. With the Boston Bruins trading away Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers this offseason, all eyes are on DiPietro to see if he can be Jeremy Swayman’s full-time backup in the National Hockey League.
That leaves Providence hunting for a new top goaltender on the depth chart. As of now, Providence has four potential options: Max Lundgren, Jiri Patera, Simon Zajicek, and Luka Cavallin. The hard truth for all four goaltenders is that not all of them can play and be Providence’s top goaltender. However, based on the four goaltenders and how last season went, Cavallin should be Providence’s top goaltender for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Despite signing with the Bruins this past March, Lundgren, 24, hasn’t played a single game in either the NHL, AHL, or ECHL. For the past two seasons at Merrimack College, Lundgren has been productive. However, getting Lundgren familiar with minor league hockey may be a route the Bruins organization goes, and starting him off in the ECHL with the Maine Mariners may be the right idea.
Patera, 27, was solid in his first season with the Abbotsford Canucks last season, posting a 12-14-2 record with a 2.63 GAA and a .910 save percentage. Patera played one NHL game last season for the Vancouver Canucks, but it went ugly as he allowed seven goals in the start. Zajicek, 25, was DiPietro’s main backup last season. Zajicek finished last season with a 14-6-1 record with a 2.44 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 21 games. Zajicek had good stretches as DiPietro’s backup, but it was his first-ever season in the AHL. Pressure will be on Zajicek for a big jump in year two.
Now, the focus is on Cavallin. Last season, Cavallin, 25, only played in eight games for Providence, posting a 6-2-0 record with a 2.47 GAA and a .910 save percentage. Before Providence, Cavallin had played 12 combined AHL games for the Toronto Marlies and Laval Rocket. Cavallin won his first five starts for Providence after getting called up.
Cavallin spent most of last season with the Mariners. In 34 games, Cavallin posted an 18-10-3 record with a 2.35 GAA and a .917 save percentage. While he didn’t get more starts than Brad Arvanitis last season, it was during the 2026 ECHL Playoffs that Cavallin spectacularly thrived over Arvanitis. Arvanitis played just four of the Mariners’ 14 playoff games, finishing with a 3.17 GAA and a .892 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Cavallin posted a 2.02 GAA and a .924 save percentage in ten playoff games. Cavallin was heavily relied on by the Mariners during the team’s crucial games of the playoffs. Cavallin made 21 saves in the Mariners’ 3-1 win over the Adirondack Thunder in Game 7 of the North Division Semifinals. It was during the second round against the Wheeling Nailers that Cavallin took the starting job over Arvanitis.
Cavallin started six of the seven games of the series against the Nailers, which included six consecutive starts, and he started every game for the Mariners from Game 2 after Arvanitis started Game 1 and lost. Despite the series loss, Cavallin was excellent against Wheeling. Cavallin made 39 saves in the Mariners’ win in Game 3, made 36 saves in the double overtime win in Game 4, and made 46 saves in Game 6’s overtime loss. Cavallin also made 21 saves to keep the Mariners in Game 7 before losing. After trailing 0-2 in the series, Cavallin started and won Games 3 through 5 to help put the Mariners one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals.
Cavallin also had a spectacular playoff performance when he helped guide the Trois-Rivières Lions to the 2025 Kelly Cup Championship. Cavallin was named the 2025 ECHL Playoff MVP. Cavallin won 15 games and posted a 1.53 GAA and a .948 save percentage. Cavallin’s playoff performances in 2025 and 2026 give him huge confidence to be better for next season, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Zajicek may get the nod to be Providence’s top goaltender next season, as he was in the AHL longer than Cavallin was last season. Patera has the most NHL experience of the goaltenders in the Bruins’ system, having played in nine games combined with the Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights, which could make him the third goaltender for the NHL or a potential starter in Providence. Zajicek and Patera may make Cavallin the Mariners’ top goaltender for next season, with Lundgren backing him up. However, Cavallin has shown that he can be relied on as a starter when it matters most in the ECHL playoffs over the past two seasons. Now, Cavallin can raise his game even more by being Providence’s top goaltender for next season.
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