Boston Bruins: Who will be the breakout player this season?
By Bryan Murphy
Jeremy Swayman becomes the Bruins’ No. 1 goaltender
This is not at all a knock on Linus Ullmark. I mean, he probably could make this list as a potential breakout star for Boston. But Bruins fans have seen what Jeremy Swayman is capable of. A 1.50 GAA and a .945 save% at the NHL level over 10 games. It’s relatively small sample size, but it’s still a sample.
Ullmark will be the No. 1 starter to kick off the season. But the way Cassidy dictates his goaltenders could ride on the shoulders of Swayman. If the youngster plays lights out, he’s going to force his way into more starts. Cassidy hasn’t shied away from a two-goalie system in the past, and this year shouldn’t be an exception.
A real big win would be if Swayman overtakes Ullmark as the No. 1 goalie. The Bruins will have their goalie of the future, and a reliable backup that could either split time with Swayman or take a back seat as Cassidy rides the hot hand. Ullmark, despite just signing a four-year deal, could even be used as trade bait if it gets to that point.
The first step is for Swayman to prove what he flashed last season wasn’t a fluke. After that, if the Alaskan can keep developing, this year can be a big stepping stone for the goaltender.