With trade rumors endlessly swirling Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark, a major development unfolded on Wednesday.
The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner had been linked to the the New Jersey Devils, but New Jersey decided to go in a different direction for a new face in the crease, acquiring Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. In exchange for Markstrom, the Flames received a 2025 first-round pick and defenseman Kevin Bahl.
Assuredly, this crosses the Devils off of the list as a potential suitor for Ullmark.
Earlier this month, there had been rumblings that the Bruins could be picking in the top-10 of the 2024 NHL Draft, set for June 28 in Las Vegas. The widespread belief was that Ullmark could be moved for either the Ottawa Senators’ seventh overall selection, or the Devils’ 10th overall pick.
Boston has not picked in the top-10 since selecting Dougie Hamilton ninth overall in 2011, and the team doesn’t have a selection in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft.
Notably, New Jersey’s swap for Markstrom included the Devils’ 2025 first-rounder, not their upcoming top-10 pick. The 2025 first is also top-10 protected, per Frank Seravalli.
The goaltending tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark have been at the center of the Bruins’ success over the last two seasons. The pair won the 2023 William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded to the goalies who allow the least amount of goals in the regular season. Ullmark also took home the 2023 Vezina Trophy for league’s best goaltender after leading the NHL in goals against average and save percentage.
Breaking up that goaltending tandem has seemed inevitable. Ullmark is five years older than Swayman, and with Swayman and the club engaged in contract extension talks, Ullmark’s time in Boston could be coming to an end. Swayman is a restricted free agent for the 2024-25 season, and his contract will likely hover around a $5 million average annual value. This would have the Bruins paying their goalie tandem $10 million (Ullmark is due exactly $5 million), which is a hefty investment and limits general manager Don Sweeney’s ability to fill out the remainder of the roster.
Swayman’s postseason performance also put some space between him and Ullmark, as head coach Jim Montgomery chose to ride with the hot goalie. Ultimately, Ullmark would only start one game during the Bruins’ playoff run while Swayman stood on his head.
Also of note, Ullmark has a 16-team modified no-trade clause, which cuts potential trade partners in half, and Ottawa tends to be one of the first cities that players put on their no move clause. It is quite possible that the Swede chooses to waive his clause, but he is already believed to have invoked his no-trade clause to block a trade to the Los Angeles Kings at the deadline.
Ullmark could very well still be moved, it just won’t be to the New Jersey Devils.
