On early Sunday morning, the Boston Bruins came to terms with Jeremy Swayman, signing the star goaltender to an eight-year contract with an annual average value (AAV) of $8.25 million.
As an insurance policy in case negotiations didn’t end in a contract, the Bruins claimed Jiri Patera off waivers from the Canucks last week. The Canucks signed Patera to a two-year contract this past offseason, and were trying to get him down to the AHL before Boston swooped in. But with Swayman now signed, the Bruins placed Patera on waivers today, giving the Canucks a unique opportunity to get their guy back.
Full list:
Brown, Bussi, Patera, Sweezey, Viel (BOS)
Clague, Reimer, Rousek (BUF)
Cooley, Pelletier, Schwindt (CAL)
Josian Slavin, Smith, Suzuki (CAR)
Phillips (CHI)
Dries, Holl, Lagesson, Rafferty, Snively (DET)
Brown, Caggiula, Lavoie, Rodrigue (EDM)
Copley, Fagemo, Studnicka…
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 6, 2024
If the Canucks are the only team to put a claim in on Patera, he would not need to clear waivers again to be sent down to the AHL. Rick Dhaliwal highlighted some more on that scenario:
Keep an eye on G Jiri Petera going on waivers,if so, the #Canucks can reclaim him and send him to minors without waivers IF they are the only team to put in a claim. https://t.co/MgIFIU66Hy
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) October 6, 2024
Joining Patera on waivers is Bruins goaltender Brandon Bussi, who posted a .913 and .924 save percentage in the AHL the past two seasons. Given that Patera isn’t the top goaltender on waivers — and that Boston was 25th in the waiver claim order when they got Patera this past week — it would be surprising if a team other than the Canucks put in a claim on Patera. Any team — aside from the Canucks, of course — would need to keep Patera at the NHL level if they put in a successful claim on him.
Patera has just eight games of NHL experience, all with the Vegas Golden Knights, boasting a 3-3-1 record, a 3.57 goals against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage (S%). The Prague, Czech Republic native signed a two-year $1.55 million contract with the Canucks this past offseason. Losing him complicated the Canucks’ goaltending plans, as they were slated to start the year with Nikita Tolopilo and Ty Young as their main two goaltenders in the AHL, a situation that would be less than ideal for first year head coach Manny Malhotra.
The waiver news will come out at 11 AM Pacific tomorrow, and we will keep you posted on all the latest. Earlier today, the Canucks acquired defenceman Erik Brannstrom from the Colorado Avalanche. Read more about that by clicking here.
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