In a recent article for The Athletic, Allan Mitchell discussed five potential targets for the Edmonton Oilers. Interestingly, two Boston Bruins made Mitchell's list.
Unsurprisingly, goaltender Michael DiPietro was at the top of Mitchell's list. This is honestly understandable, as it is no secret that the Oilers could use some help between the pipes. This is also far from the first time that DiPietro has been discussed as a possible target for the Oilers.
Mitchell also noted that the Oilers would likely need to trade for DiPietro if they hoped to land him, as the Bruins goalie would be a hot commodity if he were placed on waivers. When noting that DiPietro just won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Trophy as the AHL's top goalie in 2024-25, it would be understandable if several teams wanted to bring him in. This is especially so when noting that he put together a 26-8-5 record, a 2.05 goals-against average, and a .927 save percentage in 40 games this past season for Providence.
DiPietro's name keeps floating around the rumor mill due to Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo being ahead of him on the Bruins' depth chart. However, with the way DiPietro played this past season with the Providence Bruins, he certainly should get a chance to steal Boston's backup spot from Korpisalo.
The Bruins also could see DiPietro as a part of their future, as they signed him to a multi-year contract this off-season instead of letting him become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent. With a strong camp, DiPietro could very well end up being the Bruins' backup, especially when noting that he is also significantly cheaper than Korpisalo. However, if he does not win the Bruins' backup job, it will be interesting to see what they do with him.
The second Bruin on Mitchell's list was newcomer Matej Blumel. Mitchell argued that Blumel would be "a worthy target" for the Oilers to try to claim if he ends up being placed on waivers by the Bruins before the season.
Blumel is expected to compete for a spot on the Bruins' NHL roster at training camp, as Boston's skill at right wing is not the strongest. The 25-year-old winger is certainly the kind of player who the Bruins could take a shot on, as he has shown at the American Hockey League (AHL) in recent seasons that he possesses good offensive upside. In 72 games with the Texas Stars in 2023-24 season, he had 31 goals and 64 points. He then followed that up with 39 goals and 72 points in 67 games with Texas this past season.
With the Bruins desperately needing more offense and skill, there is a real chance that Blumel will get a shot on their NHL roster to start the season. However, the Bruins also have several players competing for spots on their roster, so Blumel will need to have a good camp to make the team. If he does not and is placed on waivers. it is certainly possible that he would get claimed due to his AHL success, whether it is by the Oilers or another club.
Bruins Intriguing Prospect Traded In USHL
<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> prospect Cooper Simpson has been traded in the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ushl/players">United States Hockey League</a> (USHL), as the Youngstown Phantoms have announced that they have acquired Simpson from the Tri-City Storm.