BOSTON — Boom. Just like that, the Boston Bruins have shaken up their goaltending depth chart in one of the most unexpected moves of the offseason.
Following a turbulent and frankly disappointing campaign from Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins have looked overseas for answers—and they found one in a big way. On Monday morning, Boston announced the signing of 24-year-old Czech sensation Jakub Dvořák, the reigning MVP of the Czech Extraliga and widely regarded as Europe’s top undrafted netminder.
Who is Dvořák? Unless you’ve been deep into European hockey Twitter or watching Sparta Praha’s playoff run, you might not know his name—but you will soon. Dvořák posted an eye-popping 1.74 GAA and .943 save percentage in 48 games this past season, leading his team to a league title and capturing both the Best Goalie and Playoff MVP honors along the way.
Sources close to the Bruins say Boston had been scouting Dvořák quietly since December, even sending goalie development coach Mike Dunham overseas during the All-Star break.
Why now? Because the Bruins couldn’t wait any longer.
Jeremy Swayman, who once looked like the goaltender of the future, stumbled hard in 2024-25. His .891 save percentage and multiple blown leads late in the year were critical factors in the Bruins’ shocking collapse out of playoff contention. With Linus Ullmark dealt at last year’s deadline, Swayman had the job to himself—and it simply didn’t work out.
“Let’s be honest—he was given the net, and he lost it,” a team source said bluntly.
The signing of Dvořák is not just a depth move. He’s expected to compete for the starting job in training camp. And insiders say the Bruins may not be done. There are whispers that GM Don Sweeney could still explore moving Swayman if the right trade partner emerges.
This is more than a fresh start—it’s a gamble on upside. A massive swing by a front office desperate to keep Boston in win-now mode while retooling on the fly.
Fans? They’re already buzzing.
“Finally. Someone’s being held accountable,” one longtime season ticket holder wrote on Reddit.
“This Dvořák kid looks unreal. Maybe he’s our next Tim Thomas,” another fan posted, referencing Boston’s last miracle goalie story.
It’s way too early to crown Dvořák as the Bruins’ savior, but one thing is clear: the front office isn’t content with another year of mediocrity in net. They’ve taken a bold step—and come September, all eyes will be on the new Czech in town.
Let the goalie battle begin