Key Takeaways:
– Boston Bruins aim to trade goaltender Linus Ullmark to Jeremy Swayman before the 2024 NHL draft.
– Ullmark initially resisted a mid-season trade, due to potential family displacement.
– Despite trade rumors, Ullmark still expresses a desire to stay with the Bruins for the 2024-25 season.
Shifting Priorities for Boston Bruins
As the fifth consecutive season ended before reaching the conference finals, the Boston Bruins have promptly begun planning their offseason activities. One of the primary objectives is solving the goaltender predicament, and it’s reported they’re making a move to trade Linus Ullmark to Jeremy Swayman by the time of the 2024 NHL draft.
According to information from The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, the Bruins have prioritized this trade. Shinzawa, on May 19, asserted, “Moving Ullmark before the 2024 NHL Draft is a priority for the Bruins.” Bruins’ General Manager Don Sweeney and his scouts need to make their presence felt at the forthcoming draft event in Las Vegas.
Ullmark’s Reluctance for Mid-Season Trade
Shinzawa’s article goes on to state that Ullmark exhibited a hesitance towards being traded mid-season, not because of the possibility of changing his team but because of the adverse effects such a transition could have on his family. This information came from a source intimately acquainted with the Bruins goaltender.
As of yet, it remains unclear how Ullmark might respond to an off-season trade opportunity. However, both he and Bruins’ General Manager Sweeney have left last March’s no-trade clause invocation undisclosed. This is even after reports circulated that the Bruins had a potential deal on the table which, for reasons unknown, didn’t come to fruition.
Ullmark’s Strong Standing in Bruins
Despite the cloud of trade rumors hanging over his head, Ullmark still holds a key position within the Bruins. Winning the Vezina Trophy in 2023 as the NHL’s best goalie and having one more season on his four-year, $20 million deal that ends after the 2024/25 season are both speaking for his contributions to the team.
During an interaction with the media on May 19, Ullmark verified his reservations about effectuating a mid-season family move. He expressed appreciation for the Bruins as an organization and Boston as a city, emphasizing that it made him feel “at home.”
Potential Impact of the Trade
Having Ullmark moved to Jeremy Swayman could lead to a significant shift in the Bruins’ goaltending and salary strategy. Ullmark is set to earn $5 million in the next season, while Swayman is expected to see a salary rise after the end of his current one-year, $3.475 million contract. The latter is set to be a restricted free agent beginning July 1, and trading Ullmark might help balance the books in Swayman’s favor.
If actualized, this move could also help the Bruins elevate their game both offensively and defensively. A chance to rejuvenate the struggling team’s offense could come alongside the opportunity for the Bruins to address their weaknesses on the left side of defense.
In the midst of trade speculation, Ullmark remains hopeful about his future with the Bruins. Anticipating the coming season, he expressed a desire to remain with the Boston Bruins and looked forward to what he described as a “revenge tour.”
As the plans for the offseason take shape for the Boston Bruins, the anticipation for the 2024 NHL Draft, and the prospective changes in Boston’s goaltending ranks, continue to build.