Goaltending controversy in Boston in year 1 of Swayman's new contract.

The Boston Bruins may have a goaltending controversy on their hands, and unfortunately for the Bruins organization it comes in just Year 1 of goaltender Jeremy Swayman's large new contract.

On the most recent episode of his podcast, National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman wondered aloud if the new coaching change in Boston could in turn lead to a controversy in goal, especially coming off the heels of a shutout win for backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo over the Utah Hockey Club this week.

"I'm gonna be honest about this... when I saw the score my initial reaction was I wonder if Korpisalo gets a bit of run here," wondered Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. "The Bruins are in a place where they have to win games."

The Bruins are clearly desperate to change their fortunes this season, as was made obvious this week when they fired head coach Jim Montgomery who had great success behind the Bruins' bench, and Friedman wondered if newly appointed head coach Joe Sacco might not stick with the hot hand.

"After seeing Korpisalo get the win I'm curious to see who is gonna be their starting goaltender on Saturday," said Friedman. "Does Korpisalo get a bit of a run?"

Friedman even believes that Swayman getting some practice time with the Bruins coaching staff could prove beneficial for him.

"They have a great goalie coach, it wouldn't hurt Swayman just to practice with him," said the insider.

Of course Swayman is destined to be the Bruins number one goaltender long term, something that was cemented this summer when the Bruins signed him to an 8 year deal that carries an average annual value and cap hit of $8.25 million per season.

"Long term obviously Swayman is the guy and I think we will eventually look back at this as a speed bump on his career and [it] will sort itself out," added Friedman.

That doesn't rule out the possibility of Sacco sticking with Korpisalo in the short term however, and if Korpisalo continues to find success, as he has thus far this season outplaying Swayman both in terms of goals against average (2.38) and save percentage (.911) it may be hard for Sacco to go back to Swayman who has struggled with a goals against average of just 3.47 and save percentage of .884.