The goalie situation with the Boston Bruins just got a bit more interesting.
On Wednesday, the team claimed young goaltender Jiri Patera off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks amid the ongoing standoff with Jeremy Swayman.
Patera, 25, appeared in six games for the Vegas Golden Knights last season, recording a .893 save percentage and a 3.98 goals-against average. He signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Canucks on July 1 and was placed on waivers by the team following training camp for the purpose of AHL assignment.
The Bruins are covering their bases between the pipes as the contract dispute with Swayman continues to bleed into the pre-season. On Monday, the tensions ratcheted up when Bruins president Cam Neely told reporters, "I don't want to get into the weeds with what his ask is, but I know that I have 64 million reasons why I'd be playing right now."
Swayman's agent disputed that comment, writing in a statement that he and his client will "discuss where to go from here."
Acquiring Patera will not replace Swayman, but the move provides the team with additional depth at the position and will give them options to back up presumptive opening-night starter Joonas Korpisalo or in net for AHL Providence.
The Bruins now have $7,086,667 remaining in available cap space, according to PuckPedia, with final cuts set to be made by Monday.
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