Sep 26, 2013; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Boston Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg (72) makes a save during the second period at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins have recalled goalie Niklas Svedberg from their AHL affiliate Providence Bruins. Svedberg has played twenty games this season for Providence. His 11-5-3 record has been decent this year with a 2.91 GAA and .907 save percentage. Last season, Svedberg won the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the American League’s top netminder, posting 37 wins(four shutouts), a 2.17 GAA and .925 save percentage. Svedberg became the first rookie to be named the AHL’s best crease policeman since Jim Carey did it in 1994-95.
Svedberg could possibly start his first NHL game as soon as tomorrow night in Ottawa, per Julien (or the game after) ^CS
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 27, 2013
The nature of the callup seems oddly timed though. Tuukka Rask and Chad Johnson were on the ice with Svedberg today. So, we know it’s not an emergency call. My only thought can be on this is that they’re shopping Svedberg around for a possible trade. This is a little disappointing. While Malcolm Subban is doing reasonable well in net for Providence, he may not be ready to be the new number one goaltender in Providence. Svedberg on the other hand looks ready to play at the NHL level.
Using Svedberg as trade bait makes more sense. Several teams in the league have goaltending problems, and the Bruins could earn themselves a tasty draft pick for Svedberg. Chad Johnson is working out in Boston as Tuukka’s back up. His 6-2-0 record, with a .911 save percentage, and an acceptable 2.40 goals against average.
The other option is that in showcasing their depth in goaltending is that they are shopping Johnson around for a possible trade. Johnson’s quality is already known to general managers across the league. He’s got NHL experience, and can play well in the net (although those wrap around goals seem to be a problem).
They’ve got a limited window to showcase Svedberg. So, we’ll see what happens in the home-to-home games against Ottawa in the next two days. The Bruins will not have three goaltenders for long, and one of them will get traded. So which one will it be?