Boston Bruins claim goalie Jiri Patera off waivers from Vancouver Canucks

The Boston Bruins claimed goaltender Jiri Patera off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

Patera, 25, signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Canucks in the offseason.

The 6-foot-2 goaltender played six games for the Vegas Golden Knights last season, going 1-3-1 with a save percentage of .893 and a 3.98 goals against average. He went 11-10-4 with a .903 save percentage and a 2.99 GAA in 25 games with the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights.

Swayman is staying away from the Bruins

Patera joins the Bruins at a time of uncertainty in net with No. 1 goaltender Jeremy Swayman not yet signed as a restricted free agent.

Bruins president Cam Neely addressed the situation on Monday, telling reporters, “I have 64 million reasons why I would play right now,” implying a contract offer worth $64 million.

Swayman's agent, Lewis Gross, defended his client later Monday, suggesting that the $64 million figure was never mentioned.

“Well, let's put it this way: As dramatic as it played out on Monday, as publicly as it played out, Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins still have a week here to get things in order and before one of them gets to the negotiating table “We're losing something tangible,” TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston explained the situation on Tuesday. “And I think that fact alone guarantees that after a little time to think about it, they will make another attempt. Consider this: If Jeremy Swayman isn't signed by opening night, every night of the season that passes, he'll lose his salary – about $40,000 a day if he's not wearing the Bruins' uniform.

“If the Bruins don’t sign him by opening night, it will be harder for them to fit him under their cap structure when they eventually do. Based on these facts, and while there are obviously some emotions here, Jeremy Swayman still has some bad feelings about how his arbitration hearing is going in the summer of 2023. He probably doesn't like how Cam Neely presented a real $64 million offer has. There's a real offer there. It's a week they can come back and try to find something to sign this player.”

Head coach Jim Montgobery also recently told reporters that Joonas Korpisalo, acquired from the Ottawa Senators last June, is slated to be the starter when the regular season begins on Oct. 8.

The 30-year-old Korpisalo posted a 21-26-4 record with a .890 save percentage and 3.27 GAA with the Senators last season