Bruins add another goalie to NHL roster
A day off for the Bruins has come with some movement in goal, but not on the Jeremy Swayman front, as the Bruins instead claimed goaltender Jiri Patera off waivers from the Canucks.
The 25-year-old Patera’s move to the Bruins comes one day after the Canucks placed the Czech-born netminder on waivers, and without a single preseason appearance to his name this fall. It also comes one day after Brandon Bussi, the current No. 2 on Boston’s goaltending depth chart behind Joonas Korpisalo with Swayman still unsigned, rebounded with a solid 13-for-14 night in the Boston crease.
Standing at 6-foot-3, Patera does have NHL experience to his name, with eight games of work and a 3-3-1 record and a .902 to his name over the last two seasons with the Golden Knights. Last year, Patera made six appearances for Vegas, and posted a 1-3-1 record and .893 save percentage in the NHL, along with a 11-10-4 record and .903 save percentage in 25 games for AHL Henderson.
Given that this claim came so late in camp, and the fact that the Bruins would have to place Patera on waivers again (where Vancouver would have a chance at claiming him back), there seems to be a legitimate possibility that Patera will jump over Bussi as the favorite for the backup gig to open the year.
Patera’s claim gives the Bruins four goalies in total on their camp roster, with Michael DiPietro also with the club along with Bussi and Korpisalo, and with two games to go on their preseason slate.