NHL Rumors: Bruins Trying To Trade Joonas Korpisalo
Joonas Korpisalo just gave the Boston Bruins a reminder of what the best case looks like, stopping all 27 shots in a recent 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins for his first shutout of the season.
The timing is interesting because Boston has been gauging the market on Korpisalo, and the chatter around the league is that moving him is much harder than simply wanting to.
He is 31, has been up and down as Jeremy Swayman’s backup, and the contract baggage is real with two years left at a $4 million cap hit plus a 10 team no trade clause that narrows the list of realistic landing spots.
What Boston’s plan looks like with Swayman as the clear No. 1
Even with the shutout, Korpisalo’s season line is still what teams keep coming back to when they hesitate. He has hovered in the mid range results in his starts, with stretches where he looks steady and other nights where the save percentage dips under what contenders want from a playoff backup.
That has pushed the Bruins into leaning heavily on Swayman, and the workload starts to matter fast when the Eastern Conference race is tight and Boston wants to be playing its best hockey in April.
This season, the 31-year-old Korpisalo holds an .894 save percentage, 3.20 GAA, and an 8-8 record over 16 starts. He has not posted a save percentage above .900 since the 2022-23 season.
KORPISAL-NO 🙅♂️
— NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2026
Joonas Korpisalo makes 27 saves for his first @pepsi shutout of the season! pic.twitter.com/5fEmns2rDE
Korpisalo’s recent run includes back to back wins and three straight appearances above a .900 save percentage, which helps, but the league view seems to be that one shutout does not erase the concern about performance relative to price.
Trade, waivers, or DiPietro: the decision Boston can’t dodge
The Bruins’ best solution is also the messiest transaction wise.
They would love to clear Korpisalo’s contract and open the door for Michael DiPietro, who has been dominant in Providence with a sparkling 1.82 goals against average and a save percentage in the upper .930s, plus last season’s AHL top goalie honor on his resume.
DiPietro is also far cheaper, which matters if Boston wants flexibility to add elsewhere.
Joonas Korpisalo, who recorded 27 saves in the Bruins first shutout win of the season: “A win is still a win, you know. I was hoping the guys could save a couple goals for today. We did. One! That was good enough for today, boys took care of the rest.”
— Jack Studley (@jackstudley13) January 12, 2026
Korpisalo has won his last… pic.twitter.com/yOWhF0mhlt
The issue is that teams looking for goaltending depth are not eager to take on Korpisalo’s money and term without Boston attaching a sweetener like a pick or a prospect. Also, with the goalie market shifting after other clubs filled their needs, the Bruins may be staring at a blunt option if trade talks stall.
Waivers have started to feel less like a threat and more like a possible path if Boston decides the DiPietro look is worth forcing the issue.
Photo Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images
