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Michael DiPietro

Bruins Extend Henri Jokiharju, John Beecher, Michael DiPietro

June 30, 2025 at 8:05 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 2 Comments

The Bruins announced a trio of extensions Monday, keeping defenseman Henri Jokiharju and goaltender Michael DiPietro away from UFA status and forward John Beecher away from RFA status. Jokiharju’s contract is a three-year deal at $9MM for a $3MM cap hit, Beecher’s deal is a one-year, one-way contract at $900,000, while DiPietro’s deal is a two-year contract worth $1.625MM in total and $812,500 annually.

Boston retains Jokiharju after general manager Don Sweeney said last week they were working on an extension with the right-shot defender. He would have been among the youngest options on the open market after turning 26 two weeks ago, but instead, he stays with the Bruins on a multi-year deal. Addressing their absence of depth on the right side of the blue line was a priority for Boston this summer, and absent from making a big splash for top UFA Aaron Ekblad, there weren’t a ton of upgrades available at the position on the UFA market. Dante Fabbro may have been one, but he extended with the Blue Jackets yesterday.

The Bruins acquired Jokiharju, who had spent most of his NHL career with the Sabres, from Buffalo at the 2024 trade deadline for a 2026 fourth-round pick. The 6’0″ Finn was a good fit in Boston after a tough year with the Sabres, posting four assists and a plus-seven rating in 18 games to end the season while averaging north of 21 minutes per game. His defensive impacts were admirable as he had to play far more than he usually would with Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy both injured. As a result, he likely left some earnings on the table with this extension. AFP Analytics projected Jokiharju to receive a three-year deal at $3.6MM per season.

He won’t receive that kind of deployment again with McAvoy presumably back in the fold to start next season, but he should slot in as No. 2 on the depth chart on a pairing with either Lindholm or Nikita Zadorov. The Bruins still have $12.7MM in cap space after today’s moves with no notable RFAs to re-sign, according to PuckPedia. They could still pursue an additional righty in addition to a forward pickup or two, but for now, Jokiharju looks set to replace the top-four role that Brandon Carlo held for so many years until his trade to the Maple Leafs at the deadline.

Jokiharju’s contract will pay him a $2.5MM base salary and a $500,000 signing bonus in 2025-26, a $3MM base salary and a $250,000 signing bonus in 2026-27, and a $2.75MM base salary in 2027-28, according to PuckPedia. He also lands an eight-team no-trade clause for next season.

Beecher, the Bruins’ first-round pick in 2019, returns on a deal that comes in slightly north of his $874,125 qualifying offer. The 6’3″ pivot firmly established himself as a full-time bottom-six forward last season after appearing in 52 regular-season games in 2023-24. He’s put together a 10-11–21 scoring line in 130 games across his two NHL seasons, posting a -15 rating while averaging 11:01 of ice time per game. He flexes between center and wing but has been great on draws, winning 53.2% of faceoffs over a decently large sample.

His possession impacts leave something to be desired, but that’ll happen when a player receives as pure a shutdown role as Beecher has. He’s seen a dZS% of 83.6 at even strength for his career, including 82.3% in 2024-25. While the 24-year-old isn’t on track to realize his first-round potential, he is a perfectly serviceable fourth-line piece, particularly at a sub-$1MM price tag.

As for DiPietro, their No. 3 netminder would have had multiple offers on the open market, but instead stays with Boston. While there isn’t an immediate pathway to an NHL role for him, there could be one if the Bruins opt to trade backup Joonas Korpisalo. He has three seasons left on his contract at a $3MM cap hit, which could be an appealing deal for teams looking to add a goalie amid a weak free agent market.

It’s the first one-way deal of DiPietro’s career, although it’s equivalent to a league-minimum one. He’ll earn $775,000 in 2025-26 and $850,000 in 2026-27, per PuckPedia, the latter of which is expected to be the new league-minimum salary when the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is officially ratified. The 26-year-old hasn’t yet seen NHL action for Boston but was exceptional for AHL Providence in 2024-25, posting a .927 SV%, 2.05 GAA, four shutouts, and a 26-8-7 record in 40 games.

Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.

Boston Bruins| Newsstand| Transactions Henri Jokiharju| John Beecher| Michael DiPietro

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Michael DiPietro Generating Interest

June 12, 2025 at 1:50 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 6 Comments

Goaltender Michael DiPietro has had a rocky development road, but got back on track with an AHL All-Star campaign in the Bruins organization in 2024-25. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports the former high-end prospect is generating interest as he heads toward Group VI unrestricted free agency in a few weeks.

If so, DiPietro might be aiming to land somewhere where there’s a potential opening for him to start the season on the NHL roster as a No. 2 option. Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff reported in March the Bruins were pursuing a contract extension with him, but considering there’s been no apparent forward progress since then, combined with today’s report, it’s clear he desires more of a shot than he’d have next year in Boston behind Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo.

A third-round pick by the Canucks in 2017 after winning the Memorial Cup with OHL Windsor, his development quickly stalled after turning pro two years later. He never became more than a fringe No. 3 option in Vancouver and lost nearly an entire year of development in the COVID-laced 2020-21 season, sitting on the taxi squad all year aside from four minor-league appearances.

After three NHL appearances and a few years of average minor-league play, the Canucks traded DiPietro to Boston at the beginning of the 2022-23 season in what looked like nothing more than a swap of AHLers at the time. DiPietro didn’t even manage an AHL role in his first year with the Bruins organization, playing just one game with Providence and spending the rest of the year with ECHL Maine, where he looked somewhat rejuvenated with a .918 SV% in 29 appearances.

A restricted free agent the following summer, the Bruins at least saw enough to tender him a qualifying offer. He signed a fresh two-way deal for the 2023-24 campaign, which saw him lock down a full-time AHL role again and replicate his forward momentum. While still Boston’s fourth-stringer behind Linus Ullmark, Swayman, and Brandon Bussi that year, he managed a strong 2.51 GAA, .918 SV%, 18-9-2 record, and four shutouts in 30 AHL appearances.

With an even stronger 2024-25 campaign, DiPietro’s development is finally on a linear track. The 26-year-old was a First Team All-Star and named the AHL’s top goaltender after superceding Bussi as Providence’s starter and posting a 2.05 GAA, .927 SV%, 26-8-7 record, and four shutouts in 40 games of action.

Goalies generally take longer to develop, and DiPietro’s winding road to this point could just be a victim of that cliché. He benefits from a pretty weak group of UFA netminders whose top options are Jake Allen, Anton Forsberg, and James Reimer. There are more than a few serviceable backups out there and even a legitimate 1B option in Allen still, but all of the options are known commodities at this stage. Aside from the veteran Allen, who was quite good in backup duties for New Jersey this season, DiPietro offers the most upside of anyone available for free.

2025 Free Agency| Boston Bruins Michael DiPietro

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Bruins Discussing Extension With Michael DiPietro

March 26, 2025 at 7:59 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 2 Comments

Once viewed as a potential goalie of the future with Vancouver, Michael DiPietro’s career hasn’t panned out quite as planned.  However, he has turned into a solid goalie in the minors in Boston’s system and the Bruins would like to keep him around as Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek reports that the two sides are discussing a possible contract extension.

The 25-year-old will qualify for unrestricted free agency for the first time this summer, though not as a typical UFA.  Instead, his lack of NHL experience to this point in time will make him a Group Six UFA, one that allows him to reach the open market a little earlier than more established players.

DiPietro has just three appearances at the top level under his belt, those coming with the Canucks where he got into one game in 2018-19, one the following year, and the last in 2021-22.  The following season saw him play just once in the AHL with the bulk of his playing time coming with ECHL Maine.

However, things have gotten much better for DiPietro over the last couple of years.  After putting up a 2.51 GAA and a .908 SV% in 30 games with AHL Providence last season, he has bettered those numbers this year, checking in at 2.03 and .928, respectively, in 38 outings.  At a time where some third-string goalies have received one-way deals and others pricey two-way agreements with a strong guarantee, DiPietro is well-positioned to land a raise on his current $225K guarantee on his next deal.

At the moment, both of Boston’s AHL netminders are set to hit the open market this summer as Brandon Bussi is a pending unrestricted free agent as well.  The 26-year-old has played fewer games than DiPietro this season and after not getting a look with the Bruins in parts of four professional seasons with them, he might look to catch on elsewhere to see if his fortunes change in another organization.  That would seemingly position DiPietro to be the unquestioned number three option for Boston next season if they can come to terms on a new deal in the coming weeks and months.

AHL| Boston Bruins Michael DiPietro

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Minor Transactions: 2/18/25

February 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 1 Comment

The transaction wire is active again today, with many teams hosting their first practices in over a week. The regular season schedule after the 4 Nations Face-Off resumes this weekend, so the players who teams reassigned to the minors over the break to continue playing will be added back to rosters today and tomorrow to make them eligible to practice with their NHL teammates. Here are all of today’s moves that largely constituted reversals of pre-break demotions.

  • The Hurricanes announced they’ve promoted defenseman Riley Stillman from AHL Chicago. While he’d been off the roster for a few days already prior to the break, he’s been a frequent traveler between Carolina and Chicago this season. He was last rostered for a game on Jan. 28 against the Rangers – his season debut, in which he recorded a fight and a shot on goal in 7:40 of ice time. A routine healthy scratch/extra defenseman, Stillman is close to requiring waivers again to head to the minors after clearing them in November. The 26-year-old has 2-3–5 with 41 PIMs and a minus-three rating in 20 AHL contests this year.
  • The Stars announced they’ve recalled defenseman Lian Bichsel from AHL Texas. He was quietly shuttled down on Feb. 8 after making eight straight appearances for Dallas leading into the break. The 2022 first-rounder has 2-3–5 and a plus-six rating through his first 16 career NHL games, all coming this season, and will continue in a regular role for the time being with Miro Heiskanen and Nils Lundkvist on the shelf.
  • The Canucks announced they’ve promoted all of center Nils Åman, forward Arshdeep Bains, and defenseman Elias Pettersson from AHL Abbotsford. They also added goalie Arturs Silovs from the Baby Canucks on an emergency loan and will have Nikita Tolopilo around as a practice goaltender until Kevin Lankinen is ready to return from representing Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off, although the latter won’t take up a roster spot. Åman and Pettersson were sent to Abbotsford on Feb. 8, but this is Bains’ first recall since late November. The 24-year-old winger had one goal and a minus-four rating in 11 games earlier this season but has remained a near point-per-game threat in the minors, posting 7-20–27 in 32 AHL games. He’ll now get another crack at NHL minutes in the final season of his entry-level contract. Silovs, who’s struggled to the tune of a 1-4-1 record and .847 SV% in seven NHL appearances this season, will come up to serve as Lankinen’s No. 2 with Thatcher Demko still dealing with the undisclosed injury that caused him to leave Vancouver’s last pre-break game against the Maple Leafs. Tolopilo’s stay will be brief, and the 24-year-old will return to Abbotsford as soon as Lankinen is available.
  • The Penguins called up winger Emil Bemström and goalie Joel Blomqvist from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and returned netminder Tristan Jarry to the minors in a corresponding transaction, the team announced. It’s a pure reversal of the moves Pittsburgh made after their last game on Feb. 8. Bemström has no points and two shots in two games since being recalled for the first time this season on Feb. 7, while Blomqvist has a 3-8-0 record with a .896 SV% and 3.54 GAA in 11 appearances on the year. The 23-year-old has struggled since taking over for Jarry on the roster, posting a .868 SV% in three starts since the veteran was waived in mid-January. The 29-year-old Jarry will continue to bide his time in the minors as he awaits another NHL chance, knocking on the door with a .924 SV% and 2.11 GAA in nine games.
  • The Rangers announced they’ve recalled goaltender Dylan Garand from AHL Hartford. The 22-year-old comes up to serve as Jonathan Quick’s backup with Igor Shesterkin not ready to return from the upper-body injury that kept him out of New York’s final game before the break. He’s sporting a .914 SV%, 2.73 GAA, three shutouts, and a 13-7-5 record in 25 showings with Hartford this year.
  • The Blackhawks summoned defenseman Ethan Del Mastro from AHL Rockford, a team announcement states. Chicago sent the 22-year-old down at the beginning of the break for additional playing time in the minors, where he posted three shots and a plus-one rating in four games over the past couple of weeks. He has one assist in six NHL games since first being called up in late January and will continue competing for bottom-pairing minutes while Louis Crevier is on injured reserve with a concussion.
  • The Bruins recalled defenseman Michael Callahan, center Matthew Poitras, and left-winger Riley Tufte from AHL Providence – the latter coming up under emergency conditions, per the team. Goaltender Michael DiPietro will also practice with the team while Jeremy Swayman remains with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off but won’t count against the active roster. Callahan’s and Poitras’ recalls are reversals of pre-break assignments, with the former’s recall serving as confirmation that Hampus Lindholm won’t be ready to come off LTIR before Saturday’s game against the Ducks. Tufte’s recall is his first since November, and his inclusion is a solid indication that Charlie McAvoy will be IR-bound after sustaining an upper-body injury and subsequent infection at the 4 Nations.
  • The Jets announced they’ve recalled Kaapo Kähkönen from AHL Manitoba to serve as a practice player with Connor Hellebuyck slated to start for the Americans in Thursday’s 4 Nations championship. He’s played one NHL game since signing a one-year, $1MM deal in Winnipeg last offseason – although it was for the Avalanche, who claimed him off waivers in October but lost him back to the Jets on the wire the following month. The 28-year-old has taken a tumble in Manitoba with a .885 SV% in 20 games – a worse save percentage than he posted on last year’s league-worst Sharks.
  • The Sharks announced they’ve recalled forward Collin Graf and defenseman Jack Thompson from AHL San Jose. They were both assigned to the minors after their final pre-break game, although notably, veteran Andrew Poturalski remains in the minors after being demoted along with Graf and Thompson. The rookies are both likely to play next Sunday against the Flames.
  • Utah announced they’d recalled winger Josh Doan from AHL Tucson after the previously reported summons of goaltender Jaxson Stauber. His reinstatement to the roster suggests Logan Cooley won’t be quite ready to return from his lower-body injury this weekend against the Kings, but general manager Bill Armstrong said yesterday he’s not expected out for much longer. Doan has 4-5–9 in 25 NHL games and 11-15–26 in 28 AHL games this year.
  • The Blues will have goaltender Will Cranley join them for practice while Jordan Binnington remains with Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the club announced. Cranley, 22, was a sixth-round pick of 2020 and is in his second season of pro hockey. He’s spent almost all of his time in the ECHL, where he has a .911 SV% and 2.28 GAA in 16 appearances with the Florida Everblades this year.
  • The Predators recalled goalie Matt Murray to join them as a practice player while Juuse Saros returns from repping the Fins at the 4 Nations, Emma Lingan of The Hockey News reports. Murray has yet to appear in a game for Nashville after spending the past few years in the Stars organization but has been recalled a few times as injury insurance this season. The 27-year-old has a sparkling .930 SV%, 2.17 GAA, two shutouts, and a 17-7-6 record for Milwaukee.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forwards Gage Goncalves and Gabriel Fortier to join as practice players. Goncalves has served as Tampa Bay’s extra forward for much of the year. His NHL career is still young, and his one goal and seven points in 33 games with the Lightning marks the first scoring of his career. Goncalves has also scored 18 points in 14 AHL games this year. Fortier has spent his whole season in the minors and scored 10 goals and 17 points in 37 games. He ranks third on the Syracuse Crunch in goals and seventh in points.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Anaheim Ducks| Boston Bruins| Calgary Flames| Carolina Hurricanes| Chicago Blackhawks| Colorado Avalanche| Dallas Stars| Los Angeles Kings| Nashville Predators| New York Rangers| Pittsburgh Penguins| San Jose Sharks| St. Louis Blues| Toronto Maple Leafs| Transactions| Utah Mammoth| Vancouver Canucks| Winnipeg Jets Arshdeep Bains| Arturs Silovs| Charlie McAvoy| Collin Graf| Dylan Garand| Elias Pettersson (D)| Emil Bemstrom| Ethan Del Mastro| Jack Thompson| Joel Blomqvist| Josh Doan| Kaapo Kahkonen| Lian Bichsel| Matt Murray (b. 1998)| Matthew Poitras| Michael Callahan| Michael DiPietro| Nikita Tolopilo| Nils Aman| Riley Stillman| Riley Tufte| Tristan Jarry| Will Cranley

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Atlantic Notes: Cernak, Stolarz, Brown, DiPietro

January 24, 2025 at 6:40 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley Leave a Comment

The Tampa Bay Lightning will once again be without defenseman Erik Cernak, who was announced as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury short before puck-drop, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. He has missed Tampa Bay’s last three games since suffering an undisclosed injury on January 16th. Cernak left that game after just one shift but didn’t seem to suffer a clear injury.

Cernak has returned to the Lightning’s top four this season. The 27-year-old has scored 10 assists and averaged 18:15 in ice time through 41 games, putting him on pace to narrowly pass his career-high of 18 points set during the shortened 2020-21 campaign. He has been replaced in the lineup by rookie Maxwell Crozier, who’s still searching for his first point of the season after three NHL games. Crozier has also scored nine points in 22 AHL games this year. Cernak’s absence will likely return Crozier to the team’s second pair next to Ryan McDonagh, while Darren Raddysh’s role on the top pair will go unchallenged for at least one more game.

Tampa Bay visits Chicago on Friday, and Detroit on Saturday. Cernak will be at risk of missing both outings.

More from the Atlantic:

  • Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz is ahead of schedule in his recovery from his knee injury, relays David Alter of The Hockey News.  He has missed nearly six weeks due to the injury but head coach Craig Berube believes the goalie won’t be out for much longer.  Before getting hurt, Stolarz was off to a very strong start to his season, putting up a 2.15 GAA with a .927 SV% in his first 17 starts; that save percentage still leads the league among qualifying netminders.
  • The Bruins announced that forward Patrick Brown and goaltender Michael DiPietro were assigned to AHL Providence. Both players were brought up earlier this week to cover injuries.  Brown has done well in the minors with 25 points in 37 games but has made just two appearances with Boston so far.  As for DiPietro, he has a stellar 1.95 GAA and a .930 SV% in 22 AHL outings but with Jeremy Swayman expected to return Saturday, his stint with the big club was short-lived.

AHL| Boston Bruins| Tampa Bay Lightning| Toronto Maple Leafs Anthony Stolarz| Erik Cernak| Michael DiPietro| Patrick Brown

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Boston Bruins Recall Michael DiPietro

January 23, 2025 at 5:27 pm CDT | by Brennan McClain 1 Comment

Michael DiPietro, American Hockey League All-Star for the Providence Bruins, will get his first look on the bench with the Boston Bruins this evening. The Bruins announced they’ve recalled DiPietro from their AHL affiliate to fill in for Jeremy Swayman as he deals with a minor injury.

Still, aside from an injury to Joonas Korpisalo or a lopsided affair against the Ottawa Senators, DiPietro will have to wait to debut with the Bruins. Should he be needed; however, it will be exactly three years to the day that DiPietro last suited up in an NHL contest.

Boston acquired DiPietro from the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022-23 season as a part of the package that sent Jack Studnicka to British Columbia. He spent much of that year for the Bruins’ ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners, posting a 19-9-0 record in 29 games with a .918 save percentage.

DiPietro hasn’t looked back since becoming a full-time netminder with AHL Providence. He split the net with Brandon Bussi last season posting an 18-9-2 record in 30 games with a .918 SV% and 2.51 goals-against average, including four shutouts. For better or for worse, Providence tasked Bussi with playoff duties despite DiPietro’s marginally better output, and they were ousted in four games against the Hartford Wolf Pack.

The Windsor, Ontario native is still sharing the net with Bussi this season albeit starting a few more games. DiPietro has already been named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team with a 14-5-4 record in 22 games with a .930 SV%. Not only is DiPietro leading Providence in save percentage by a large margin, he sits second only to Devin Cooley in the entire AHL for netminders that have started in 20 or more contests.

Boston Bruins| Injury| Transactions Jeremy Swayman| Michael DiPietro

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Waiver Wire: 10/4/24

October 4, 2024 at 1:28 pm CDT | by Brennan McClain 10 Comments

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman all 17 players on waivers yesterday have cleared. There are again several players to hit the wire today as reported by Friedman:

Anaheim Ducks

F Jansen Harkins

Boston Bruins

G Michael DiPietro
F Vinni Lettieri
D Jordan Oesterle

Florida Panthers

F William Lockwood

Los Angeles Kings

F Taylor Ward

New Jersey Devils

F Justin Dowling
F Mike Hardman
F Samuel Laberge
F Nathan Légaré
F Maxwell Willman

Philadelphia Flyers

F Olle Lycksell
F Anthony Richard

Pittsburgh Penguins

F Emil Bemström
D Nate Clurman
F Jonathan Gruden
F Joona Koppanen
D Filip Král
D John Ludvig
F Samuel Poulin

Tampa Bay Lightning

G Matt Tomkins

Toronto Maple Leafs

F Alex Steeves

Washington Capitals

D Ethan Bear
F Luke Philp
F Michael Sgarbossa

Anaheim Ducks| Boston Bruins| Florida Panthers| Los Angeles Kings| New Jersey Devils| Philadelphia Flyers| Pittsburgh Penguins| Tampa Bay Lightning| Toronto Maple Leafs| Transactions| Waivers| Washington Capitals Alex Steeves| Anthony Richard| Emil Bemstrom| Ethan Bear| Filip Kral| Jansen Harkins| John Ludvig| Jonathan Gruden| Joona Koppanen| Jordan Oesterle| Justin Dowling| Luke Philp| Matt Tomkins| Max Willman| Michael DiPietro| Michael Sgarbossa| Mike Hardman| Nate Clurman| Nathan Legare| Olle Lycksell| Samuel Laberge| Samuel Poulin| Taylor Ward| Vinni Lettieri| William Lockwood

10 comments

Bruins Recall Nine Players From AHL

May 16, 2024 at 8:12 pm CDT | by Josh Cybulski 2 Comments

The Boston Bruins have added to their black aces as they have recalled nine players from the AHL’s Providence Bruins (as per AHL Transactions). Providence was eliminated by the Hartford Wolf Pack last Friday for the second year in a row allowing the Bruins to recall the nine players today to take part in the remainder of the Bruins playoff run. Boston will face elimination once again tomorrow night in Game 6 of their best-of-seven series against the Florida Panthers.

Joining the Bruins’ black aces will be forwards Joey Abate, Trevor Kuntar, Marc McLaughlin, Georgii Merkulov, Anthony Richard, and Oskar Steen. Defensively, Michael Callahan and Ian Mitchell will join the team, while goaltender Michael DiPietro also received a callup.

Abate just completed his second season in the NHL and has yet to see NHL action in his brief professional career, while Kuntar was a rookie this season in the AHL after being drafted in the third round back in 2020.

McLaughlin has had brief appearances in the NHL in each of the past three seasons posting four goals in 14 games, including a goal in his only NHL appearance this season. The 24-year-old grew up near Boston and was the captain of Boston College in his final two NCAA seasons.

Merkulov led Providence in scoring this season with 30 goals and 35 assists in 67 AHL games. The undrafted free agent signing has been a solid offensive contributor in the AHL since arriving in 2021-22. The 23-year-old saw his first NHL action this season going scoreless in four games.

Richard has been a mainstay in the AHL for eight seasons but has bounced around in recent years. The former fourth-round pick in 2015 has had a few cups of coffee in the NHL throughout his professional career, posting four goals and four assists in 24 NHL games. The 27-year-old had a goal and two assists in nine NHL games this season with Boston.

Steen spent much of the year with Boston dressing in 34 games but tallying just a single goal. He fared much better in the AHL scoring 12 goals and adding four assists in 25 AHL games. The native of Karlstad, Sweden has been in the Bruins organization for five seasons and remains a tweener bouncing back and forth between the AHL and the NHL in each of the last four years.

On the backend 24-year-old Callahan just completed his third professional season, playing in a career-high 70 AHL games. The former fifth-round pick has yet to make his NHL debut and doesn’t offer much offensively, posting just four goals and 13 assists this season.

Mitchell came over to the Bruins from the Chicago Blackhawks last summer in the trade that sent Nick Foligno and Taylor Hall the other way. He looked like he may have found a home on the Bruins blueline early in the season but hasn’t dressed in an NHL game since December 23rd and was demoted to the AHL. With Providence, the 25-year-old posted solid offensive numbers with six goals and 18 assists in 42 games.

DiPietro’s young career feels as though it’s come full circle as the netminder had a few NHL starts early in his career with the Vancouver Canucks after an impressive OHL career, but his play fell off and he was relegated to the ECHL last season. This year, Dipietro bounced back and posted impressive AHL numbers with an 18-9-2 record to go along with a .918 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average.

The nine men will join several of their other Providence teammates along for the ride with Boston as they look to extend their playoff run tomorrow. The black aces are unlikely to see action in the playoffs, but they will have an opportunity to practice with the Bruins and soak in the atmosphere of the NHL playoffs.

Boston Bruins Anthony Richard| Georgii Merkulov| Ian Mitchell| Joey Abate| Marc McLaughlin| Michael DiPietro| Oskar Steen| Trevor Kuntar

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Bruins Recall Brandon Bussi, Patrick Brown, Jayson Megna

May 13, 2024 at 12:10 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley 1 Comment

The Boston Bruins have recalled three players ahead of Game 5 against the Florida Panthers, including forwards Patrick Brown and Jayson Megna, and goaltender Brandon Bussi. The team has also assigned goaltender Michael DiPietro to the AHL. These moves follow the Providence Bruins’ elimination from the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs, losing the Atlantic Division Semifinals to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Both Brown and Megna stepped into Boston’s lineup during the regular season, playing in 11 games and one game respectively. Brown was the only one to score, posting one assist in his bottom-of-the-lineup role. It’s the first year in the Boston organization for either player, with much of their season spent in the AHL. Megna made the most of the minutes, ranking second on Providence in scoring with 19 goals and 56 points in 69 games. Meanwhile, Brown posted a tamer 32 points in 42 AHL games. The pair will add stout depth to a Bruins team that played Game 4 without captain Brad Marchand. Justin Brazeau stepped in in relief, recording a +1 in 12:26 of ice time.

And while Brown and Megna will give the Bruins more options at forward, Bussi will serve as the team’s emergency third-string goaltender.The 25-year-old netminder is coming off a strong season with Providence, where he recorded 23 wins and a .913 save percentage in 41 games. It was another strong year for Bussi, who has now posted a save percentage above .910 in all three AHL seasons he’s taken part in. His career totals are up to 48 wins and a .918 across 78 AHL games, tying Bussi for the seventh-most wins and 14th-highest save percentage of any AHL goalie since 2021. He’s as strong of a third-string goalie that a team could ask for, though it’s very unlikely he’s able to crack the lineup ahead of superstar goaltender Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.

AHL| Boston Bruins| Players Brandon Bussi| Jayson Megna| Michael DiPietro| Patrick Brown

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Bruins Recall Patrick Brown On Emergency Basis

May 5, 2024 at 7:12 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

The Bruins will kick off the second round on Monday against Florida and have made a roster move in advance of that game.  The team announced that they’ve recalled forward Patrick Brown from AHL Providence on an emergency basis.

The 31-year-old inked a two-year, $1.6MM deal with Boston over the summer with the expectation that he’d contend for a spot on their fourth line.  It didn’t quite work out that way, however, as he cleared waivers at the end of training camp and did so again a month later.

Overall, Brown played in just 11 regular season games for Boston this season, recording just one assist while logging less than nine minutes a night.  As a result, he spent most of the year in Providence where he was much more impactful, collecting 32 points in 42 regular season games plus three more in two playoff contests thus far.

Boston had 14 forwards on its roster before Brown’s recall so the emergency designation is notable.  Danton Heinen remains injured but since they had an extra healthy skater on the roster already (Jakub Lauko), it appears as if there’s at least one other forward whose availability for Monday night isn’t assured.

Meanwhile, while not announced by the team, the Bruins have also recalled goaltender Michael DiPietro, per the AHL’s transactions log.  The 24-year-old has been serving as Boston’s emergency goaltender in recent days and had a 2.51 GAA with a .918 SV% in 30 games with Providence during the regular season.

AHL| Boston Bruins| Transactions Michael DiPietro| Patrick Brown

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