An addition I am sure will do nothing but create deeply normal responses.
Oh boy this story is just going for the long haul, isn’t it.
The Bruins have continued the offseason’s BC-to-Boston exchange with a waiver pickup; Czech-born Jiří Patera from the Vancouver Canucks.
The #NHLBruins have claimed goaltender Jiri Patera off waivers: https://t.co/vrdKmvfa3C
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 2, 2024
Patera’s career to this point has largely been in the AHL and in relief duties as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights; playing primarily in Henderson with only a brief dip to Fort Wayne, Indiana to play in the ECHL. Patera has a career .902 SV% in his very brief time in the NHL; totalling 8 games with a 3-3-1 record. He was signed to a 2-year, $775,000 contract with the Canucks this offseason, and then…well…here we are.
The reason for this decision should be abundantly clear to anybody who has a working skull and all the attachments; This is almost certainly a move to ensure the Bruins can ensure they have goaltenders with NHL experience in surplus as the Jeremy Swayman negotiations have completely derailed themselves, and it doesn’t look like they’re gonna get better all that soon. Brandon Bussi is currently the leader in the backup goaltender spot candidacy, though the team’s insistence on experience may have won an opportunity for Patera; even if he himself only has a handful of games under his belt.
Granted, that’s probably not going to be enough for some watchers, as Providence-area journalist Mark Divver made abundantly clear:
Don’t know what Bruins are thinking with today’s goalie move and what do I know about goalies, anyway?
Well, I do know Brandon Bussi has been one of the best goalies in the AHL for last 2 years
Jiri Patera, on the other hand, has been a goalie in the AHL for the last 2 years
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) October 2, 2024
Now, I don’t think Patera is currently anything more than a Bussi replacement in Providence, but I can understand Mark’s frustration here. Regardless of whether or not Patera even plays a minute of NHL hockey in a Black and Gold sweater, it’s clear these negotiations in net are going to be The Story of the early season for Boston; more than anything else they do. The after effects of what they decide to do with a man completely unrelated to this waivers claim are going to be the reverberating path of the next half-decade for the team, and now Jiri gets a potential front-row seat to the issue as it unfolds.
That said, I hope we get to see Patera play before the preseason ends; whether it’s in Washington or in Quebec City. He deserves a chance to get acclimated to the system before either being sent to Providence, or stay with the main club.
Regardless of All Of What’s Going On Around This Claim, let’s all welcome Jiri Patera to the Black and Gold!