When the Boston Bruins traded goaltender Linus Ullmark last June, the move itself wasn’t shocking — but the destination and return package raised eyebrows. Ullmark was dealt within the Atlantic Division to the Ottawa Senators, and many felt the Bruins received less than expected for a former Vezina Trophy winner.
In exchange, Boston acquired forward Mark Kastelic — a fourth-line player — goalie, and a first-round pick in last June’s NHL Entry Draft. That selection was used by GM Don Sweeney to draft Dean Letourneau, who just wrapped up his freshman year at Boston College. One factor that limited the Bruins’ return was Ullmark’s contract situation; he had only one year left and no extension in place at the time. He later signed a long-term deal with Ottawa early in the season.
Top star, coming off a rough 2023-24 campaign with the Senators, was considered a reclamation project. The Bruins hoped that goalie coach Bob Essensa could help revive his game. Our latest player evaluation for Boston’s 2024-25 season focuses on Korpisalo.
Joonas Korpisalo’s Performance
Honestly, could things have gone much worse for Joonas Korpisalo during his lone season in Ottawa? He posted a 21-26-4 record with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage on a Senators team that once again failed to make the playoffs — though it’s fair to argue the roster in front of him didn’t offer much support.
This year with the Bruins, Korpisalo finished 11-10-3, improving slightly with a 2.90 GAA, a .893 SV%, and three shutouts. A notable difference was his reduced workload compared to last season. While the Bruins’ overall play wasn’t a massive step up from Ottawa’s, the end results were better, and at times, it looked like the team performed more effectively in front of him than they did for Jeremy Swayman.
There were moments when Korpisalo was outstanding for Boston, despite a rough introduction. His debut came on opening night in South Florida against the reigning champion Panthers, who scored four goals in the first period and six total. It was a brutal start to his Bruins tenure, especially for a player looking to make a strong first impression.
Joonas Korpisalo Moving Forward
This is where things could get particularly interesting between Korpisalo and the Bruins. At the end of the season, Korpisalo expressed frustration about his limited role, feeling he should have appeared in more than just 24 games. He openly criticized the coaching staff and front office, and his agent followed up with a pointed message to GM Don Sweeney: “Play him or trade him.”
Realistically, the latter option is the most logical for Sweeney and the front office. With a \$3 million average annual value, Korpisalo is too expensive for a backup who isn’t outperforming the \$8.25 million starter ahead of him. His level of play matched what was expected from a backup — nothing more.
As free agency approaches on July 1, the Bruins need every dollar of cap space they can get. There are more cost-effective options in the AHL, like Michael DiPietro or Brandon Bussi, who could handle Korpisalo’s workload at a lower price. For Boston, this offseason is about retooling quickly and maximizing financial flexibility — and parting ways with Korpisalo would help accomplish that.