Now that September is just about here, we are rapidly getting closer to the start of NHL training camps. The Boston Bruins will certainly be a team to keep an eye on during the pre-season, as they will have plenty of players competing for spots on the NHL roster.
One of the players who fans should be watching extra closely during training camp is goaltender Michael DiPietro. After signing a two-year contract this off-season with the Bruins instead of testing the market as a Group 6 unrestricted free agent (UFA), he will now be looking to earn a spot on Boston's NHL roster.
When looking at the season DiPietro just had in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, he should receive real consideration for a spot on Boston's roster. The 26-year-old won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's top goalie in 2024-25, posting a 26-8-5 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 2.05 goals-against average in 40 games.
Yet, what's also very important to note about DiPietro is that the Bruins will need to place him on waivers if they hope to send him down to Providence before the start of the season. If the Bruins were to place him on waivers, there certainly would be a chance that a team looking for help between the pipes would claim him. If the Bruins were to lose DiPietro through waivers, it would be a tough blow to their goalie depth.
However, the possibility of DiPietro winning the Bruins' backup goalie spot should not be ruled out. Korpisalo underperformed in 2024-25 with Boston, recording an 11-10-3 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, and a .893 save percentage. DiPietro would also offer the Bruins a much cheaper option for their backup role, as Korpisalo has a $3 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Nevertheless, there is no question that the Bruins will have a big decision to make with DiPietro once we get closer to the season. It will be interesting to see if he can win the backup job from here. If he does not and is placed on waivers, he could very well end up being picked up by another team.
One Bruins Off-Season Move That Deserves More Attention
It has been a busy summer for the<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins"> Boston Bruins</a>. They have made some important moves, like re-signing Morgan Geekie, Mason Lohrei, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/bruins-made-right-call-re-signing-key-defender">and Henri Jokiharju</a>. They have also brought in multiple new players as they look to bounce back in 2025-26.