The Boston Bruins have locked up their goaltending depth for a couple more seasons, signing both Zane McIntyre and Malcolm Subban to two-year, two-way contracts. Each player will earn the minimum of $650K at the NHL level.
The tandem of McIntyre and Subban was one of the best in the AHL last season, recording a .930 and .917 save percentages respectively. They split the games almost completely evenly, and both even had short stints in the NHL when injuries struck Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin. Both NHL netminders are back next season, though Khudobin’s deal expires next summer. At that point, the Bruins will be able to make a decision on who is their next backup, and who will remain the starter in the AHL.
McIntyre, 24, took a huge step forward this year in his second season since signing out of the University of North Dakota and may have positioned himself as the leader in that race as of this moment. That’s not to say the decision is made though, as Subban, 23, comes with a much higher draft pedigree—he was selected 24th-overall in 2012—and has proven he is a capable goaltender at the AHL level for a longer stretch.
Subban has proven to be a capable goalie at the AHL level for a longe stretch? I wouldn’t say that. He’s be an absolute enigma at the AHL level. He’ll show flashes of brilliance & then let in the easiest goals you’ll ever see. He loses his concentration at times during the game. I saw him play in a game against Hershey. Providence was up 2 in the 3rd period & in complete control of the game. Then, Subban let in an extremely weak goal from far out because he wasn’t paying attention. Then, he gave up another and Providence ended up losing in OT. Subban has lost the top job in Providence on more than one occasion. He lost it to Jeremy Smith. He lost it to Zane McIntrye. Subban’s draft pedigree doesn’t mean a thing because his play hasn’t matched that pedigree. I would not be surprised at all if Subban gets traded
I hope he does. He’s been awful since he was drafted
Subban is basically there for when McIntyre gets called up…. let’s face it, the Bruins have more interest in developing Daniel Vlader at this point than the athletic yet completely erratic Subban.