Bruins Sign Intriguing Goalie Prospect To Entry-Level Contract
Simon Zajicek had a nice season in Czechia this past year
Depth at any position is important in the NHL, but as the Bruins have proved over the years, building a strong goalie pipeline can be beneficial.
Boston on Monday continued to invest in the position, as it signed 23-year-old goalie prospect Simon Zajicek to a one-year, entry-level deal with a cap hit of $872,500.
The Czech native has spent his entire professional career in his home country, playing for HC Litvinov of the Czech Extraliga. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound netminder made 29 appearances this past season, posting a .930 save percentage with a 2.12 goals-against average.
The random highlight reel on YouTube is pretty impressive, too.
The Bruins have had success over the years identifying and coaching up goalie prospects. Franchise goalie Jeremy Swayman was a fourth-round pick, and before him, the Bruins were able to pluck Tuukka Rask from Toronto and make him a franchise cornerstone. They also acquired Linus Ullmark, who went on to win a Vezina Trophy, and Boston won a Stanley Cup with Tim Thomas, a former ninth-round pick who made his NHL debut almost a decade after being drafted.
None of that is to suggest Zajicek will be the next in that line of studs between the pipes. But the Bruins probably aren’t asking him to do so, either. Boston is expected to return both Swayman and backup Joonas Korpisalo, meaning Zajicek will get to know Providence pretty well. The B’s need goalie depth down on the farm, too, with Michael DiPietro and Brandon Bussi both set to hit free agency this summer.
However, if Zajicek hits the ground running, he may get a look with the big club. General manager Don Sweeney stressed the importance of internal competition among Boston’s goalies, and while he was primarily referring to Swayman and Korpisalo, Zajicek will try to add his name to that list in training camp.
