Rangers trade for backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo from Bruins

The New York Rangers completed a trade on Wednesday, sending a 2028 fourth-round draft pick and forward prospect Kalle Väisänen to the Boston Bruins in exchange for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The 32-year-old Finnish netminder, who has spent the past two seasons as Boston’s backup, posted a 14-9-6 record with a .894 save percentage and a 3.15 goals-against average in 2025-26, according to Natural Stat Trick. He carries a two-year contract worth $3 million per season and a ten-team no-trade clause, with Ottawa retaining $1 million of his $4 million average annual value.

Korpisalo is expected to compete with 24-year-old Dylan Garand for the Rangers’ No. 2 goalie spot. Both players would need to clear waivers before any AHL assignment, creating a potential roster dilemma. Garand, who signed a two-year deal with an $875,000 average annual value, made a promising NHL debut last season, posting a 2-0-1 record, .948 save percentage and 1.62 goals-against average in three games.

Boston’s motivation for the deal centers on salary-cap flexibility. Moving Korpisalo’s $3 million AAV frees space for the Bruins to add defensive depth, while allowing Michael DiPietro to assume the backup role behind Jeremy Swayman. DiPietro, the AHL’s Goalie of the Year for two consecutive seasons, is under a two-year, $1.625 million contract after being acquired from Vancouver.