On February 20, the Boston Bruins have signed Michael DiPietro to the American Hockey League (AHL) after being emergency called up.
DiPietro was acquired in a trade from the Vancouver Canucks in 2022 and has been a mainstay in their AHL organization, the Providence Bruins. This season, Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo have kept the net steady.
Where does he fit into their future?
According to RG’s James Murphy, the team will soon investigate whether Korpisalo can move as the redevelopment continues unabated. This could give DiPietro some traction for the backup job in Boston. Here’s RG’s James Murphy on the January topic:
“They did their best to find a dance partner and move him along. Like every time they put out feelers, his performance and cap hit were the main issue. Some teams are looking for depth and an upgrade at their backup position, but Korpisalo isn’t that this season.” –James Murphy, Yahoo Sports
Related: Bruins have two potential goaltenders to keep an eye on
If the team moves on from Korpisalo at the March trade deadline, the future could look bright in Boston.
The only obstacles general manager (GM) Don Sweeney faces with Korpisalo? He has a ten-team no-trade clause and a total value of $8 million on his contract.
Bruins has to make a choice
DiPietro has been one of the Bruins’ best players this season.
DiPietro, 26, posted an 8-1-0 record in the month of January, with a 1.34 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound goaltender has not allowed more than one goal in six of his nine games played, including a shutout win over Cleveland on Jan. 17. -Providence Bruins
He has played a total of 29 games, with a 1.65 goals against average (GAA) and a save percentage of 0.942 (SV%). His contract costs? Compared to Korpisalo’s average annual value (AAV) of $4 million, this stands at $812,500 (total value $1.63 million) and expires in 2027. An affordable backup with a higher benefit is a logical choice for who you’ll promote next.
Sweeney will have to deal with the fact that the Bruins will have to move on from their Finnish goaltender Korpisalo in order to recoup some assets for the once great goaltender (with the Columbus Blue Jackets).
Who can forget his 85-save game against the Tampa Bay Lightning?
Since he left Columbus, his stock has fluctuated and we’re not sure what value he could fetch. A no-trade clause reduces the Bruins’ leverage. They will have to accept less for him.
In 22 games, his record is 10-8-2, with a 3.15 GAA and an .893 SV%.
The Bruins were outclassed by the Edmonton Oilers in Tuesday night’s loss, and fans’ frustration boiled over as the team slid to its fifth straight winless game. Fans booed the team heavily during a fruitless power play in the third period, and a loud “Fire Sweeney” chant echoed through the stadium.
In the long run, you want to position the team to win, especially after drawing the ire of the fans last season who sang ‘Fire Sweeney’.
DiPietro is a long-term solution to the Bruins’ woes
On Friday night, the P-Bruins blew past the Belleville Senators in their 13th straight AHL win this season (5-2). DiPietro continues to stand out from the rest of the target audience in the minor leagues with a game of 25 saves on 27 shots against. The P-Bruins faced 39 total last night.
The minor league Bruins top the Atlantic Division thanks to a solid team performance, including help from Georgii Merkulov (two assists), Matej Blumel (one goal, one assist) and Brett Harrison (two goals).
With DiPietro’s help, the team has a 38-8-1 record and 77 points in 2025-2026.
Come March, it’s time for Don Sweeney to reassess the net situation and consider moving on from Korpisalo and keeping the talent stock with new blood to give the Bruins a chance to win. That means giving Jeremy Swayman a backup he can rely on in Michael DiPietro.
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