Michael DiPietro is turning a hot start into a real money question for the Bruins.
Boston rolled past the Nashville Predators 6-0 on Thursday night, and the biggest reason the game turned into a laugher was in goal. DiPietro stopped all 28 shots he faced for a shutout, giving the Bruins exactly the kind of steady backup work that gets attention fast.
It wasn’t a one-off, either. In his previous start against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 16, the 27-year-old turned aside 26 of 28 shots. Those two outings have pushed him to a 2-1-0 record, a 1.69 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage in three games this season for Boston.
The numbers don’t stop there. DiPietro also put together a huge year for the Providence Bruins in 2025-26, finishing with a 34-8-1 record, a 1.91 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage in 45 games. Last season, he was named the AHL’s best goalie of the year for the second straight campaign.
That kind of run makes the contract situation impossible to ignore. DiPietro is in the final season of his deal and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. If he keeps backing up Boston the way he has to start this season, the Bruins would have every reason to try to keep him around on a new extension.
It’s been a strong climb for the 2017 third-round pick. Boston got him from the Vancouver Canucks during the 2022-23 season, and after blossoming into an AHL standout, he’s now making a clear case that he belongs in the NHL. If this stretch continues, the Bruins may not want to let him get anywhere near the open market.
In Other News...
James Hagens Is Giving Bruins Fans A Very Different Reason For Hope
James Hagens arrived in Boston with the reputation of a high-end offensive prospect, the kind of young forward Bruins fans naturally expected to eventually tilt the ice with his skill. Early this season, though, the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft has been turning heads for a very different reason. The 19-year-old has fit into a checking-line assignment and impressed teammates by leaning into the dirty work, showing a willingness to adapt as he faces top competition and learns the pro game from a defensive angle.
The shift has been especially noticeable in the way Hagens has attacked his role away from the puck. Known more as a point producer, he has embraced playing wing and focusing on defense, and his early work has already stood out across the league. For a Bruins team looking for reasons to believe in its next wave of talent, Hagens is offering one built on effort, maturity and a readiness to do whatever the coaches ask. [Read more 🡒]
Morgan Geekie's Bruins Drought Is Becoming Hard To Ignore
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Geekie has been measured about the dry spell, sticking to a selective shooting approach while also acknowledging the need to be more active in generating offense. The next step is finding more of those chances on his own, particularly when turnovers open the ice, because the Bruins would like their top scorer from last season to start turning looks into goals again. [Read more 🡒]
Casey Mittelstadt Is Giving Bruins A Bigger Boost Than Expected
Casey Mittelstadt came into this season with a clear focus after spending the offseason working on his skating, and the early returns have made him look like a more dynamic fit than Boston probably expected. Drafted eighth overall by Buffalo in 2017, Mittelstadt has shown improved speed and a steadier game, the kind of progress that can change how a player is used and how much trust a staff is willing to place in him.
Marco Sturm has noticed the difference, praising Mittelstadts pace and consistency while crediting the work he put in over the summer. Mittelstadt has sounded pleased with where his game is headed, too, and the growing chemistry hes building with James Hagens and Elias Lindholm gives the Bruins another useful layer as they continue sorting out their lineup options. [Read more 🡒]