The Boston Bruins are likely to promote one or two of their top prospects to the NHL given the current make-up of their roster. Which ones are most likely to earn the spot?
Just about two weeks after free agency opened, the Boston Bruins’ roster is more or less set. The biggest priority remains re-signing Jeremy Swayman to a new contract, but other than that, there likely won’t be any more players signing in Boston this offseason, with the possible exception of a low-cost veteran on a two-way contract or Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO).
Besides that, the players currently under contract will be the ones competing for a roster spot in October, and given the way things are laid out, it’s possible a younger prospect without much NHL experience will have the opportunity to take the leap up. At least, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said as much.
“I would say that [Georgii Merkulov] and [Fabian Lysell] or Riley Duran keep going down the list: Just pin your ears back, train your ass off this summer, and come with the intent that there'll be an opportunity here,” Sweeney said on July 1. “If you're the best player, then we find a way to get you in the lineup. You have to sustain it as you're going along.”
Clearly, there are a few players that Sweeney mentioned by name that are on the Bruins’ radar for a chance to win a roster spot going into next season. First, we looked at Merkulov, Lysell and Duran, as well as Brett Harrison, but today we'll discuss a non-forward with a shot at making the team.
Brandon Bussi, Goaltender
Age: 26
Draft Position: Undrafted
2023-24 stats:
- AHL - 41 GP, 23-10-5, .913 SV%, 2.67 GAA
Bussi is a much different case than the previous prospects, but he’s worth talking about nonetheless. The forwards in Boston’s prospect pool could prove themselves ready to take the next step, but they’re still young enough that staying in the AHL for another season may be what’s best for their development regardless. For Brandon Bussi, it’s the opposite.
At 26 and with zero games of NHL experience, Bussi is eager to earn his spot in Boston. He re-signed on a one-year, $775,000 contract after his second season as the primary goaltender in AHL Providence, but his path to a roster spot is not so clear.
Of course there’s Jeremy Swayman, who is awaiting a new contract as a restricted free agent but is firmly entrenched as the Bruins’ franchise goalie following Linus Ullmark’s trade to Ottawa last month. Then there’s Joonas Korpisalo, who was part of the return for Ullmark and has nine seasons of NHL experience under his belt and four years left on his contract.
That said, Korpisalo was one of the worst starting goaltenders in the NHL last season. Now on a better team with a smaller role, it should be easier for him to improve in 2024-25. That said, Sweeney did not close the door on Bussi beating out Korpisalo for the No. 2 spot.
“I don’t want to lose sight of Brandon in the sense that, you know, he’s paid his dues,” Sweeney said ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft in June. “He wants an opportunity in the National Hockey League. If he beats out -- in this case in all likelihood -- Joonas, then we’ll have to give him the opportunity.”
Given Korpisalo’s contract and cap hit ($3 million AAV), it will be an uphill battle for Bussi to force Boston’s hands and make them bury it in the AHL, but even if he doesn’t make the opening night roster, the Bruins will likely want to see what he can provide at the NHL level and give him some games over the course of the season.
