The Vegas Golden Knights take another exposed Boston Bruins player after taking defenseman Colin Miller in this summer’s expansion draft.
Boston Bruins’ goaltender Malcolm Subban is off to Vegas after the Golden Knights claimed the former first rounder off waivers on Tuesday. Subban was placed on waivers on Monday with the intention of being sent to Providence after losing the preseason backup goaltender battle to Anton Khudobin. Currently, Subban is the third goaltender on the Golden Knight’s roster.
Why Would Vegas Want Subban?
Subban had a decent preseason statistically posting a 2.71 Goals Against Average in four games. Starting in two of those games, Subban had a 2-0-0 record including a win over Chicago where he had an impressive third period. Subban had the most ice time out of all Bruins’ goaltenders in the preseason, appearing for 132:33 minutes.
With three-time Stanley Cup Champion Marc-Andre Fleury firmly slotted in as Vegas’ starter, the focus turns to the backup role. Subban had a better preseason than current backup Calvin Pickard. Pickard was 0-1-1 in the two games he started for Vegas with a 4.00 Goals Against Average and a 0.869 Save Percentage. Compare that to Subban’s 2.71 GAA and 0.889 Save Percentage and it would make sense that Subban was claimed to take over that role.
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Before this preseason, Subban was starting to be considered as a draft bust. Playing in only two NHL regular season games, the young netminder has a 5.82 GAA and a 0.727 Save Percentage. Safe to say these are not NHL caliber stats. However, Vegas gave up nothing to acquire the young goaltender who could be trending upwards.
Providence B’s Goalie Outlook
With Subban out of the picture, Zane McIntyre will likely be the starter for the baby B’s. Daniel Vladar will most likely fill the backup role. Before the waiver claim, Subban was likely pegged to be the starter in Providence after spending the entire preseason with Boston. Subban and McIntyre split time in the regular season last year before McIntyre took over in the playoffs.
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Could Don Sweeney eventually regret this decision to place Subban on waivers? Only time will tell, but the Bruins appear to be just fine at the goaltender position for this season.