Goalie Linus Ullmark did not travel with the Boston Bruins to Philadelphia for their game against the Flyers on Sunday due to a lower-body issue, according to Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery. The Bruins recalled Brandon Bussi from the AHL (along with four others) this morning to serve as the backup to Jeremy Swayman in Ullmark’s absence. Bussi has played in 31 games for the Providence Bruins this season, posting a spectacular 21-5-4 record with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
This is the first time that Ullmark has been held out of the lineup due to injury this season, a good sign for the normally injury-prone netminder. He’s played himself right to the top of Vezina Trophy consideration this season, posting spectacular numbers even given Boston’s solid defense. His 1.89 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, and 39 wins all rank first in the league. While his absence so close to the playoffs beginning is a concern, the team will take every precaution possible with injuries during their few remaining games, given the President’s Trophy is already theirs.
- Logan Cooley, undoubtedly the Arizona Coyotes’ top prospect, is reportedly taking a few days to think over his decision regarding whether to sign his entry-level contract this season, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic. The University of Minnesota freshman standout, unlike now-former teammates Brock Faber and Matthew Knies, has not decided on his immediate future after last night’s loss in the NCAA Men’s Tournament national championship.
- According to Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, it appears unlikely that team captain Gabriel Landeskog will play in any of the team’s four remaining regular season games. Bednar confirmed Sunday that Landeskog has not yet resumed practicing with the team and is unlikely to do so before the end of the regular season. A playoff return hasn’t been ruled out for Landeskog, who will miss all 82 regular season games with a knee injury.
Faber pkayed 3 seasons at Minnesota and Knies played 2. The Gopher making this decision most comparable to Cooley is linemate Snuggerud, who also just finished his freshman season.
Knies signed with Toronto this afternoon according to the local news out of Minneapolis.
NCAA D-1 hockey, a small time development league for the NHL, or, more likely, the ECHL. Cooley is probably huddled with his social studies tutor discussing the future or not even on campus at all. Unfortunately for NCAA players, they don’t make up the biggest part of the pool of available young talent, who overwhelmingly come from the CHL and foreign junior and pro teams. Since the college kids play far fewer games in a season than juniors their development is held back. Even studs like Cooley and Knies will end up paying their dues in the minors and being trained to accept a defined role at the higher levels. Superstar Gopher goaltender LaFontaine jumped ship early to go to the Hurricanes and now shares the net for the Orlando Solar Bears with an 11-14 record and an .898 gaa.
Brock Faber signed his 3 year entry level contract and is going to be on the bench for the Wild against the Blackhawks tonight.