Dan Vladar gets 1st look as next generation of Bruins' netminders comes into focus

Already hemorrhaging points in the uber-competitive East Division, the free-falling Bruins desperately need someone to step up and help stop the bleeding going into Tuesday's rematch with the red-hot Penguins.

And, fair or not, some of that responsibility will fall to a 23-year-old netminder with no regular-season reps up in the NHL ranks.

No pressure.

With Tuukka Rask still sidelined due to an undisclosed injury and a taxed Jaroslav Halak having just played on Monday night in Pittsburgh, the Bruins will turn to Dan Vladar in net on Tuesday — with the Czech product looking for a bit of redemption after a less-than-ideal introduction to the big leagues during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thrust into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal last August in relief of Halak, Vladar was left out to dry by his teammates in an eventual 7-1 loss to the Lightning, stopping 12 of the 15 shots that came his way during mop-up duty. Despite that tough break, Vladar has come into his own over the past two seasons down in Providence, posting a .936 save percentage last season in 25 games with the Baby B's before following that up this year with a 2-2-1 record and a .923 save percentage over five games against AHL competition.

And even though Vladar certainly warrants a look given the state of Boston's two regular NHL netminders, the decision was far from easy, given the rising stock of fellow Providence goalie Jeremy Swayman in Boston's prospect pipeline.



Swayman, coming off of a fantastic 2019-20 season at Maine in which he was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist, hasn't missed a step since making the sizable jump to pro hockey — posting a 7-0-0 record with Providence with a .942 save percentage. Ultimately, Vladar's previous experience gave him the slight edge over Swayman in terms of determining Tuesday's starter — but multiple parties weighed in on a decision that wasn't taken lightly.

"We're not gonna play Jaro on the back-to-back, that's the first discussion, under these circumstances. He just played four in a row. We play Thursday," Bruce Cassidy said. "So, who is the best fit to go in. Is it Vladar? Is it Swayman?  And those decisions go to A — Goalie (coach) Bob (Essensa), that's his area. (Goalie development coach) Mike Dunham, who's down in Providence, (Don Sweeney). I don't know if (Providence head coach) Jay Leach would get that involved because the goalie coach would have a better feel for it.

"So it's essentially the goaltending department and they make their recommendation. I can't weigh in too much on that because both those goaltenders have not played in the NHL other than Vladdy getting some mop-up duty which we all know was a tough spot for him against a really good team in the playoffs. We're not gonna judge him on that, we're gonna judge him on the resume. Their resumes are both very good. Then they've got to pick one. They're comfortable with both. I think either one would have been a good call. Vladdy does have more experience since he's been around longer. That part of it. He's earned the right to get in there.

"Then there's the argument of who gives us the best chance to win - and it might very well be going back to Jaro but we don't want to do that. In the long run, we don't think it's beneficial to ride a goalie that hard."

As exciting as Swayman's rise and development has been in such a small sample size, there's no harm in giving Vladar the first look — especially given that his play hasn't dropped off either from last year's breakthrough. It might be enticing to ride the hot hand with Swayman and see what spark that might bring the club, but it's also a very tough ask to drop a 22-year-old goalie in Swayman (with all of seven games of pro experience) into a road matchup and ask him to hold his own against the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and more.

Although Swayman might have a higher ceiling than Vladar up at the next level, Leach believes both of his starting netminders offer plenty of NHL potential, and each are deserving of their current spot up on Boston's roster/taxi squad.

"I think they're both deserving," Leach said of Swayman and Vladar. "Obviously Jeremy's sample size is smaller than Vlads. But he's been very impressive with his start and obviously he showed in Maine the type of elite goaltender that he was. Vlad has done a terrific job with his development the last year and a half especially. Really taken a step and is certainly warranted — that opportunity to get a start in the National League. So whatever guy gets it, I'm sure they'll be very excited. And the guy that doesn't get it, he'll get his as well.

"It just might take some time, whenever that comes in. They'll be ready — both of them. I mean, I have full confidence in them. They've played the same consistent way for the last, well, obviously since Sway's been here and then Vlad for the last year and a half, two years. So both deserving and one of them will grab it and the other one will be ready for the next one."

Steen draws into lineup

Vladar will not be the only rookie set to make their NHL debut on Tuesday, as forward Oskar Steen will also draw into the lineup and skate on the B's third line next to Charlie Coyle and Nick Ritchie. 

Steen, 23, has seen his stock soar since Boston scooped him up in the sixth round of the 2016 Draft, with the Swedish C/W dominating with Färjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League back in 2018-19 (37 points in 46 games - while matched up against competition 5-10 years older than him) before making the jump over to North America.

Prior to getting called up to Boston, Steen had appeared in 12 games with Providence this season — scoring three goals and posting eight total points with the Baby B's.

"He's been a center and right wing - a little more center this year but has played right wing. Got a good shot," Cassidy said of Steen. "We're gonna insert him in there for now and see how it goes. Obviously if it doesn't look like the wing is working out for him then we might slide him into the middle and move someone over to the right side. That's been a challenge, the right side, all year."

Even though Steen may not develop into the legitimate top-six force he was overseas, Leach said that Steen has managed to settle in and adjust his game on the smaller sheet of ice in North America — developing a more cantankerous attitude out on the ice and forcing a punishing tandem on a line with Anton Blidh.

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"Steen has been inside, real pest to play against," Leach said. "Played center most of it.  Really good in his own end, starting to get a shooter's mentality and you're starting to see some production and can make some high-end plays. ... When he's on the ice, he's just he's buzzing around. I think he's picked up a step, he's really able to get in on the forecheck and create with the speed."