The Boston Bruins have locked up some of their young goaltending depth, signing Dan Vladar to a three-year contract extension. The deal will carry an average annual value of $750K at the NHL level but is actually a two-way contract for the first two seasons. The goaltender was scheduled to hit restricted free agency at the end of the season.
Vladar, 23, was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL this season, posting a .936 save percentage in 25 games with the Providence Bruins. His save percentage and incredibly low goals-against-average of 1.79 both led the league, though Kaapo Kahkonen of the Iowa Wild actually took home the top goaltending honors. Still, there’s plenty to be excited about in Vladar’s case.
Selected in the third round of the 2015 draft, the Czech-born Vladar quickly came to North America to start playing a little closer to his professional future. He suited up for the Chicago Steel of the USHL in 2015-16, before jumping into the Bruins organization and starting his development in the ECHL. A few years and a lot of hard work later, the 6’5″ goaltender is getting closer to challenging for an NHL spot.
Those NHL spots of course are currently occupied, with both Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak under contract for one more year. The veteran duo are both capable NHL starters, meaning Vladar likely has at least one more minor league season in his future before getting tested at the highest level. This extension though provides some security for the Bruins as they head toward unrestricted free agency with both NHL netminders and approach a tough decision on where the franchise will go in net for 2021-22.
Of course, this deal also helps the Bruins in another way. All teams are required to have at least one eligible goaltender under contract for the 2021 expansion draft, meaning Vladar now fills that need as well. It doesn’t seem likely that the Seattle Kraken would pick him though, given how many other young skaters will be available on the Boston list.