Depth is crucial at every position in the NHL, but the Boston Bruins have consistently shown the value of maintaining a strong goaltending pipeline.
The Bruins continued to reinforce that philosophy by signing 23-year-old goalie prospect to a one-year contract worth \$872,500 against the salary cap.
A native of the Czech Republic, has played his entire pro career in his home country with HC Litvinov of the Czech Extraliga. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound goaltender had an impressive 2023-24 season, logging 29 games with a stellar .930 save percentage and a 2.12 goals-against average. And for fans looking for a glimpse of his skill set, his YouTube highlight reel certainly delivers some eye-catching moments.
The Bruins have a strong track record when it comes to identifying and developing goaltending talent. Current franchise netminder Jeremy Swayman was selected in the fourth round, and before him, Boston struck gold by acquiring Tuukka Rask from Toronto and turning him into a foundational piece. The team also brought in Linus Ullmark, who eventually earned a Vezina Trophy. And of course, there’s Tim Thomas, a former ninth-round pick who didn’t debut in the NHL until nearly a decade after being drafted—yet went on to backstop the Bruins to a Stanley Cup title.
That’s not to say the Bruins expect Simon Zajicek to be their next star in net. Realistically, they’re not asking him to be. With Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo both expected to return next season, Zajicek is likely headed to Providence, where he’ll get acclimated with the AHL club. Boston also needs to bolster its depth at the position, especially with Michael DiPietro and Brandon Bussi both approaching free agency this summer.
Still, if Zajicek impresses early, he could earn a chance to showcase his skills at the NHL level. General manager Don Sweeney has emphasized the value of internal competition within the goaltending ranks. While his comments mainly referred to the Swayman-Korpisalo tandem, Zajicek will certainly aim to force his way into that conversation come training camp.