Boston Bruins Offer Jonas Gustavsson PTO

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

With three goaltenders in competition for the backup goaltending job in Boston, the Bruins were going to be left with some big decisions. With Jonas Gustavsson invited to training camp, the goalie situation became even foggier.

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Jonas Gustavsson has proven to be a solid backup goaltender in Detroit, although is issues with injuries caused him to play in only seven games in the 2014-15 season. In those seven games, Gustavsson was reliable, posting a 2.56 GAA as well as a 0.911 save percentage. The real strength for Gustavsson was his time playing at even strength though. In even strength situations in his seven games last season, Gustavsson was able to stop 108 of 115 shots against which amounted to a 0.939 save percentage.

While Gustavsson may have to compete with young goaltending prospects Jeremy Smith, Malcolm Subban, and Zane McIntyre, he should have the inside track on the backup role in Boston due simply to his experience.

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Due to Gustavsson’s aforementioned issues with injuries, it would still make sense for each of the three prospects to get ample reps in the preseason to showcase their own ability in the event that Gustavsson does go down with injury. The most likely of the three prospects to get a shot in Boston at the moment seems to be Jeremy Smith.

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With one year on his contract worth $600,000 at the NHL level, Smith will be on a prove-it type deal with the Bruins this season, whether it be returning to Providence or stepping up to the plate in Boston. Smith had a very good year in Providence last season winning 22 games and posting a 0.933 save percentage and 2.05 GAA in 39 games.

The Boston Bruins will be in need of quality starts from backup goaltending this season to ease the workload of Tuukka Rask. Claude Julien had very little trust in Niklas Svedberg, it seems, and that let Rask to starting far too many games during the 2014-15 season. With Gustavsson in camp, it’s clear that the Bruins are making a concentrated effort to relieve their superstar goaltender of some of the stress he may have had last season.