There are numerous inquiries regarding the Boston Bruins new goalie addition, Joonas Korpisalo. Despite facing challenges during his previous season with the Ottawa Senators, the Boston front office saw potential in him. Consider that the Sens retained salary on Korpisalo, this resulted in a $3 million yearly agreement for the next four years and the trade of Linus Ullmark. This marks a new beginning, and fans are optimistic that this season will yield far better results than the last for the Finland native.
Main photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Bruins New Goalie Excited About 2024-25
After signing a new contract with the Senators last year, Korpisalo took to the ice for 55 games. He secured 21 victories and finished with a save percentage of .890. Unfortunately, that figure placed him at the bottom of the rankings among 20 goalies who played at least 50 games in the 2023-24 season, while his goals against average of 3.27 also landed him in last place. Additionally, he was part of an Ottawa goaltending team that constantly surrendered goals early in periods. However, as he embarks on a new chapter in Boston, a team known for elevating its goaltenders’ performances, the 30-year-old appears to be optimistic, believing that the right environment can make all the difference.
“Last year was a tough year for everyone in Ottawa,” Korpisalo said at his introductory press conference via Zoom. “You know, they changed the GM, the owner, all the coaches. It’s a long season when it goes that way. And, for me individually and I think the whole team, we did underperform the whole year.
“But that’s that. It’s behind me and I look back and obviously there are some things about it, but now it’s time to look forward and I have a great opportunity here in Boston.” (watch full video here)
7️⃣0️⃣ days until #NHL hockey returns
After being traded to the #NHLBruins, how well will Joonas Korpisalo pair up with Jeremy Swayman?pic.twitter.com/vlvN1WnFmm
— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) July 26, 2024
Korpisalo Under New Leadership
The fantastic opportunity in Boston really kicks off with Korpisalo receiving direct coaching from Bruins goaltending expert Bob Essensa. Widely regarded as a true maestro in his field, Essensa sees potential for improvement in certain aspects of Korpisalo’s game that the Bruins believe can be refined. It’s certainly intriguing to consider whether the Ottawa experience was simply a negative chapter for Finnish goaltender Korpisalo. And if a change of scenery could be the key to revitalizing his performance.
This isn’t an unprecedented scenario. Korpisalo previously transitioned from Columbus to Los Angeles at the end of the 2022-23 season. During his time with the Kings, he showcased a commendable performance, securing seven victories and achieving a .921 save percentage over 11 games. This was particularly impressive given that the Kings ranked among the top five teams in the league for shots against per 60 minutes, expected goals against per 60, and high-danger scoring chances against per 60. If Korpisalo can recapture that form, the $3 million investment for a reliable backup behind Jeremy Swayman will be more than justified.
Korpisalo’s Challenge
A common misconception that has circulated since the Bruins brought in Korpisalo is that simply inserting him into Boston’s system will automatically reignite his performance. While this approach was a hallmark of the Bergeron-Chara era, the Bruins must show they can regain that standard after a rather average showing last season. Interestingly, both the Bruins and Senators allowed shots, expected goals, and high-danger chances at similar rates last year. However, the key distinction was that the Bruins’ goalies were able to make crucial saves when it mattered most.
To tackle this issue, the Bruins have acquired the imposing Nikita Zadorov to bolster their defensive presence, while Jay Leach returns to the Bruins after enhancing the Seattle Kraken defensive lineup over the past few seasons. He is anticipated to take charge of the Bruins’ defence, succeeding Joe Sacco, who held that role last year.
The Future Looks Bright
These adjustments should benefit Korpisalo, especially considering that the Bruins have not had a goalie play at least 25 games and maintain a save percentage below .900 during Essensa’s tenure since Andrew Raycroft’s .879 in the 2005-06 season. Remarkably, this has only occurred once in 21 seasons of Bruins goalies playing a minimum of 25 games since 2003.
Regardless of how the Bruins perform in front of Korpisalo, it’s evident that his success hinges on bouncing back from what was an exceptionally poor season last year.
