Bruins Joonas Korpisalo was just named the worst goalie contract in the league

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Joshua Deeds
October 26, 2024 (9:14)

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The Boston Bruins are infamous this season for multiple reasons, their offense hasn't been what it used to the the last three years.

Also, their goalie depth isn't as deep as it used to be, as Don Sweeney traded away Vezina Trophy-winning goalie, Linus Ullmark.

In a recent article by The Athletic by James Mirtle, he went through goalie contracts and ranked them. Trade acquisition Joonas Korpisalo made #1 but not in the best way.

Korpisalo's contract has been rated the worst contract in the NHL for a goalie, as in 3 games played for the Bruins this season, he has a 2-1 record, with a 4.57 GAA, and a .850 save percentage.

Korpisalo signed a 5-year, $4 Million AAV deal with the Ottawa Senators and is currently in year 2 of the deal.

Now, the Bruins get to carry the deal, as they traded Linus Ullmark to the Senators, for Korpisalo, and what may as well have been a bag of pucks.

Fortunately for the Bruins, the Senators agreed to retain $1 Million dollars in cap space so the Bruins will only eat $3 Million per season.

While the 30-year-old veteran goalie continues to struggle in Boston, it makes the hit seem much, much worse.

Korpisalo landed his big contract after an excellent 2022-23 season split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings. In 39 games that campaign, he had an 18-14-4 record, a .914 save percentage (SV%), and a 2.87 goals-against average (GAA). However, he has been far from that form since.

Last season, with the Senators, he had a 21-26-4 record, a .890 SV%, and a 3.27 GAA. He also had a rough start for the Bruins in 2024-25, posting a .850 SV% and a 4.57 GAA in two starts.

The Bruins desperately need Joonas Korpisalo to bounce back, so the Bruins can get back to a stable crease.

Having a backup goalie with a sub-.900 save percentage, is bad news for the Bruin's long-term goals. So the goalie coach Bob Essensa, and Jim Montgomery should make a gameplan for Korpisalo's long-term success.

They need to make a plan now while there's still time for him, and the rest of the coaching staff. Or it will all be for naught, and what's left will be Dean Letourneau, who is still a few years out of a Bruins uniform, whether in Boston or Providence.