New Bruins goalie ready to 'look forward' and get to work in Boston
New Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo addressed the Boston media on Zoom for the first time on Wednesday since he was part of the deal that sent Linus Ullmark to the Senators.
Korpisalo is expected to be Jeremy Swayman’s backup, once his new deal is signed this summer. The new Bruins goaltender is excited to work with Swayman and spend time with him on and off the ice.
“[Swayman] seems like a great guy,” Korpisalo said. “I’m looking forward to [meeting] him, and [getting] to know him, and spend time with him on the ice and off ice. That’s how it starts.”
Shortly after the trade, Swayman reached out to Korpisalo and gave him a “warm welcome.”
The 30-year-old has four years left on his deal, and the Bruins are paying 75 percent of his $4 million salary. The nine-year NHL veteran is coming off a tough season in Ottawa but is expected to complement Swayman nicely as his new backup.
Korpisalo won just 21 of his 49 starts, posting a .890 save percentage and 3.27 goals against average. He was playing for a bad Senators team that finished with the seventh-worst record in the NHL. The advanced numbers indicate Korpisalo had one of the worst seasons among starting NHL goalies last season.
“Last year was a tough year for everyone in Ottawa. For me individually, and I think the whole team, we did underperform the whole year, and that’s that,” Korpisalo said. “It’s behind me, and I look back, and obviously there are some things about it, and now it’s time to look forward.”
Korpisalo is looking forward to turning the page on last season and getting to work with the Bruins this summer ahead of the upcoming season.
“I don’t see an overhaul. There’s always things to work on. The big picture comes from little details. Those are the things you work on every day,” Korpisalo said.
“Even now I’m working on those little details, and I don’t think there’s anything major to change on my game and it’s just on me to be on my level, and that’s fairly enough to win games in that league. Obviously, there’s always things to work on. Start skating early this summer. There’s plenty of time to work on details.”
Korpisalo said he’s already been in touch with Bruins goalie Bob Essensa and is eager to get to work with him.
“Bob did his research, which is a great thing for me. I’m super excited to get to work with him as well,” he said. “I’m super excited. It’s, it’s a top organization, for sure. Having a winning culture that’s what every player wants.”
