In case you missed it because of the Dmitry Orlov/Garnet Hathaway trade and the incredible game on Saturday night, the Boston Bruins made a more minor trade on Saturday. Goalie Keith Kinkaid, playing with the Providence Bruins, was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for center Shane Bowers.
This move doesn’t seem like much on the surface. But, for those of you who follow the P-Bruins, you would know that goalies Kyle Keyser and Brandon Bussi are trying to imitate the Linus Ullmark/Jeremy Swayman tandem in the NHL, with the AHL duo in the midst of terrific seasons for Providence.
By trading the veteran Kinkaid who was first in line for an NHL callup, the Bruins are letting Keyser and Bussi show their incredible potential, and if they can keep it up, the NHL might come calling soon enough.
Almost a year ago, the Bruins were able to sign Bussi to a pro contract out of Western Michigan University after his Junior year in college. He initially started this season with ECHL Maine but was quickly called up to Providence after Keyser sustained an injury that kept him out of action for a while.
Since that initial call to Providence, Bussi has lit the AHL on fire, with a 16-2-4 record entering play on Sunday, with a sparkling .929 save percentage and a sub-1 GAA of 0.38 in 23 games, adding a shutout to earn a selection to the AHL All Star Game in Laval.
Prior to the injury that sidelined Keyser, he had a 4-0-1 record in his first five starts, posting a 1.87 GAA and .931 save percentage. When he recovered, Bussi and Kinkaid were playing good enough to send Keyser down to the ECHL for a spell.
Eventually, Keyser was called back up to Providence, and much like Bussi, he has had pretty good numbers in the AHL this season. Entering Sunday, the soon to be 24 year old has a 7-1-2 record in 13 games, recording a 2.40 GAA and .914 save percentage.
So, while the Bruins have a very stable and very good tandem of Ullmark and Swayman, you never know when injuries are going to strike. If and when one of the two goalies should go down, the Bruins have two very good goalies in the AHL capable of coming up to the big club and can let their play do the talking.
Make no mistake, while Kinkaid was good in Providence, having two young goaltenders that are enjoying a lot of success is a good thing, both for the players and for the team.