Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Boston Bruins (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo could be playing for his third team since signing a five-year, $20 million contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 1, 2023.
Numerous sources have told RG Media that Korpisalo’s agent Markus Lehto has let Bruins general manager Don Sweeney know that if the plan isn’t to give Korpisalo more starts next season, his client will welcome a trade this offseason.
“I’m hearing his name out there more and more,” an NHL executive source told RG Media. “He’s not happy and thinks he earned more playing time. He’s more than open to exploring trade options.”
RG Media heard increasing trade chatter on Korpisalo leading into the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7 but not enough to confirm the Bruins had actually entertained any NHL trade offers for the 30-year-old netminder. Another NHL source confirmed to RG on Thursday teams did inquire on Korpisalo.
“They got calls and I know that,” a trusted NHL source said. “What materialized and how far, I can’t tell you, but there was some interest.”
Korpisalo Wants More Ice Time
In the 2024–25 season, Korpisalo started 27 games, recording 11 wins and three shutouts, with a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.90 and a save percentage (SV%) of 89.3%.
A recent email request from RG to Lehto did not receive a reply, so there is no confirmation from him that any type of trade request has been made. However, this all falls in line with the message that Korpisalo sent via the media in the players’ final media availability on April 17.
“I don’t think there’s any goalie in the league who’s really comfortable playing 20 to 25 games,” Korpisalo told the assembled media that day.
“So I’m going to push for more games, and we’ll see what happens. I was pretty open when I got into the season, and always, you just try to put everything you have out there, make your mark to gain some playing time. But you just do what’s best for you every day, and try your best and work hard, and that way you might earn some more playing time.
But you know, sometimes it’s not up to me [with] who’s going to play more. And whatever role it is, you do the best you can in that role.”
Sweeney Seeking Balanced Tandem
In his final media availability of the season, Sweeney was asked about starter Jeremy Swayman seemingly struggling with the increased workload this past season after missing training camp before eventually signing an eight-year, $66 million contract. Sweeney referenced Korpisalo’s comments about his playing time and did express a desire to find a better time split next season.
"That’s part of the reset, and it was a disjointed year for him and an extension of our team. He’s not to blame as the extension of our team, he’s just part of it. But again, leaning on Korpi [Joonas Korpisalo] and creating internal competition that says it’s not just de facto that you get the start, you know, it certainly wasn’t previously to that, and it worked that both those guys pushed each other, and I want that back again.”
Whether that eventual tandem between the Bruins’ pipes includes Korpisalo is yet to be seen, but this is something to watch as the NHL Entry Draft and NHL free agency approach.
James Murphy
With 24 years of experience (SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, ESPN Boston, NESN, NHL.com, etc.) covering the Bruins, the NHL, NCAA and junior hockey, and more, Jimmy Murphy’s hockey black book is filled with Hall of Famers, current players, coaches, management, scouts and a wide array of hockey media personalities that have lived in and around this great game. For 22 of his 24 years as a hockey and sports reporter, Murphy covered the Bruins on a daily basis, including their victorious 2011 Stanley Cup run and their runs to the 2013 and 2019 Finals. Murphy is currently a co-host, along with Pierre McGuire, on The Eye Test Podcast.
