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Bruins have made at least one decision in goal |
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Ty Anderson
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Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins still need to sign pending restricted free agent Jeremy Swayman and figure out the future holds for Linus Ullmark. But this past weekend did come with one goaltending decision made – or potentially made for them – in the prospect ranks for the Black and Gold, with prospect Reid Dyck not signed to an entry-level contract.
Drafted in the sixth round (No. 183 overall) in 2022, Dyck posted a 2023-24 that featured a 25-7-2 record, along with a .911 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average, in 35 games for the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. Dyck’s .911 save percentage ranked fifth among all WHL goaltenders, while his 2.70 goals against average was the seventh-best in the league.
The Bruins also had until 5 p.m. on Saturday to get him signed to his first pro contract before losing his exclusive rights and setting Dyck up to re-enter the NHL Draft this year. That, obviously, did not happen.
The 'why' behind that decision is an interesting one, too.
There was no doubt that the 6-foot-4 Dyck broke through this past season, with junior career-bests across the board. Dyck even joined Providence on an amateur tryout agreement at the end of his WHL playoff run, seemingly boding well for his development and where the Bruins felt he was at. There was also a definite opening for him somewhere in Boston's immediate pipeline, be it in ECHL Maine or AHL Providence given the expected departure of Kyle Keyser, and how an Ullmark trade could lead to an NHL promotion for Brandon Bussi or Michael DiPietro. It's also incredibly rare for the Bruins to not sign goaltenders they draft (Lars Volden was the last goalie drafted but not signed by Boston).
But maybe that crowded crease is why a deal didn't transpire.
No matter what happens with Ullmark, the Bruins like who they have in the blue paint and they like the future of the position. That obviously begins with the 25-year-old Swayman, but Bussi and DiPietro are still on the young side obviously, and the team added Notre Dame standout Ryan Bischel on a minor-league contract and still has 2021 fourth-round pick Philip Svedeback in the college ranks with Providence College. And while the Bruins have confidence in that group, it's possible that Dyck didn't see a lot of opportunity within that structure and is instead taking a chance on his draft stock improving in 2024.
Of course, as it stands now, Dyck's decision is the least of the Bruins' worries in goal.
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