Boston Bruins’ future in net looking bright thanks to Dan Vladar and Jeremy Swayman

Right now, the Boston Bruins have one of the best goaltending duos in the NHL with Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak. However, these two can’t play forever and with both of them in contract years and in their mid-30s we might be nearing the end of the Rask and Halak days in Boston.

Although Rask and Halak might not be around for too much longer, the B’s future looks to be in good hands with the stellar play from both netminder prospects Dan Vladar and Jeremy Swayman for Providence in the AHL.

Thanks to Vladar’s and Swayman’s impressive play so far this season, the P-Bruins are atop their division, suffering just two losses, and are third in the overall AHL.

While we may still have at least another year or two before these two are in the NHL full-time, their excellent play early in the AHL season is extremely encouraging and should make every B’s fan exciting for the post-Rask era.

Dan Vladar and Jeremy Swayman have been key to the Providence Bruins’ success.

As I said earlier, the P-Bruins are currently a top-three team in the AHL. While they have been getting contributions from forwards Zach Senyshyn and Jakub Lauko, and defenseman Jack Ahcan, their goaltending tandem has also been a huge factor in their success early on.

Going into the season Vladar was seen as the Black and Gold’s top ggoalie prospect, however, Swayman has been impressive since making the transition from college hockey with the University of Maine to professional hockey with Providence.

Because of this, the P-Bruins don’t have a true No. 1 goaltender and use a goalie rotation like Boston did at the beginning of the season. Currently, Swayman has one more game played than Vladar.

To put into perspective just how good these two have been, both goalies have a top-10 goals-against average (GAA) in the AHL this season, with Vladar’s being 0.02 better than Swayman’s. Additionally, both netminders have a top-11 save percentage (SV%) so far this season, with Swayman’s being .001 higher than Vladar’s, just making Swayman’s SV% top-10.

Dan Vladar

Vladar was a third-round pick by the Black and Gold in 2015. Since then the 23-year-old has played 72 games over five seasons in the AHL with seven shutouts, .917 SV%, and 2.31 GAA.

Vladar has also played 60 games over three seasons in the ECHL, but struggled a bit posting a 3.21 GAA, .904 SV%, and no shutouts. Vladar made his NHL debut last season in a playoff game. He struggled mightily, posting a 6.27 GAA and .800 SV%.

So far this AHL season, Vladar has played four games, posting one shutout, 1.78 GAA, and .934 SV%.

Jeremy Swayman

Swayman was a fourth-round pick by the B’s in 2017. Since then the 22-year-old has 100 games over three seasons of college hockey, posting four shutouts, 2.51 GAA, and .927 SV%.

This season is Swayman’s first of professional hockey and he has been excellent. Through five games Swayman has yet to lose and has posted a 1.80 GAA and .935 SV%.

Since Swayman hasn’t had any experience in the NHL, it’s unknown where he is compared to Vladar when it comes to being NHL-ready. But one thing is certain, both are currently owning the AHL and if they can transition to the NHL, Boston will have yet another elite goalie tandem after Rask and Halak.