How Bruins could have issue with ex-Senator Joonas Korpisalo down the road

Prior to the 2023-24 season, the Ottawa Senators were desperate to find a new number one goaltender after Anton Forsberg struggled in 2022-23. To do that, the Senators signed Joonas Korpisalo to a five-year, $20 million contract.

Korpisalo helped the Los Angeles Kings make the 2023 playoffs with his late season push, but it didn't carry over into Ottawa. After one struggling season, the Senators traded Korpisalo to the Boston Bruins to help acquire 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark.

The Senators retained 25 percent of Korpisalo's $4 million annual salary ($1 million) to move Korpisalo easier. One year later after the trade, the Senators made the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Meanwhile, Korpisalo and the Bruins finished last in the Atlantic Division in 2025, and the trade can get worse over time for Boston.

Bruins have three years remaining with Korpisalo's contract

Boston's number one goaltender Jeremy Swayman had struggles in 2024-25 with allowing in the most goals during the 2024-25 season with 176. Swayman finished the season with a 22-29-7 record with a 3.11 goals against average and .892 save percentage.

With Swayman struggling, Boston looked to Korpisalo to pick him up. However, Korpisalo had some struggles as well. Korpisalo finished the 2024-25 season with an 11-10-3 record with a 2.90 goals against average and .893 save percentage. After the season, Korpisalo talked about how he wasn't pleased in the amount of games he played.

Despite not being pleased in the amount of games played, Korpisalo is still on the Bruins roster at 31 years old. The Bruins have not yet traded Korpisalo, and an issue can be due to his contract.

With the Senators retaining some salary, Korpisalo is earning $3 million per year from the Bruins until 2028. That can be a huge issue going forward for the Bruins.

At $3 million per year, that's a large salary for a team to take on if the Bruins want to trade Korpisalo. Something to also take into consideration is Korpisalo's salary is earned as a backup goaltender, not a starter.

Backup goaltenders' salaries aren't usually that high at $4 million annually. For example, ex-Senators goaltender and Ullmark's backup in 2024-25 Anton Forsberg signed a two-year contract at $2.25 million per year with the Los Angeles Kings six days ago at 32 years old. Forsberg finished 2024-25 with a better goals against average and save percentage than Korpisalo did in Boston.

If Korpisalo struggles again in 2025-26, the Bruins could be desperate to get rid of the contract one way or another. Boston might have to retain salary on Korpisalo's contract if they can trade him just like Ottawa is doing now, or a potential buyout could be possible.

The Bruins finishing last in the Atlantic Division in 2025 can add more immense pressure on Korpisalo to do better in 2025-26. Meanwhile, the Senators will be trusting Ullmark to help guide them to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

One year into the Ullmark trade, it's favored the Senators. However, things can happen in year two to swing the trade over in the different direction.