Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff writes about four potential trade destinations for Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark. Larkin believes that the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators would be the frontrunners for the services of the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner should he be moved. Ullmark reportedly blocked a move at the trade deadline in March and has a 15-team no-trade list that could impede a potential trade this summer. Larkin’s list is largely based on speculation, but on the surface, it makes sense, given that the four teams on it were all undone by inconsistent goaltending this season.
In Colorado, Alexandar Georgiev didn’t have a very good regular season for the Avalanche and fell apart in the playoffs with an .894 save percentage. The story was similar in Los Angeles where Cam Talbot and David Rittich both had good regular seasons but couldn’t give the team enough to get out of the first round. The Kings pursued Ullmark prior to the deadline but were unable to complete a deal due to the netminders no trade list.
Ottawa and New Jersey aren’t surprising possibilities for Ullmark as they were two teams that came into the season with playoff expectations but were let down by some of the worst goaltending in the NHL. Ottawa signed netminder Joonas Korpisalo to a five-year $20MM contract last July in the hopes that he would steady their goaltending situation, however, the first year of the deal was a flop and Korpisalo finished second to last in the league in goals saved above expected with a -16.1 (according to Money Puck). Mads Sogaard and Anton Forsberg also appeared for the Senators this season and struggled as well.
New Jersey didn’t fare much better as Vitek Vanecek lost his game and finished near the bottom of the league in goals saved above expected with -11.2. Akira Schmid also saw his play fall off and found himself in the AHL for a big chunk of the season. The team brought in Jake Allen at the trade deadline from Montreal, but with one year left on his contract, the 33-year-old is more of a stopgap for the Devils and would be a terrific backup should they acquire Ullmark.
With his limited no-trade clause, Ullmark will have some say in where he ends up this summer, but won’t have full control. He is just a year out from becoming an unrestricted free agent once again and can choose his preferred destination in the summer of 2025.
He goes to NJ for Mercer.
Horrid deal for Jersey
Mercer wasn’t great last season. He 33 points in 82 games. That’s 5 fewer than Van Riemsydyk had for the Bruins in 71 games. I would say that’s a bad deal for Boston
Zacha worked out for Boston, Mercer will too!
devs make that trade if they can work out an extension, but not a rental.
I don’t know how Matt Larkin omits the Hurricans from the list. They talked to the Bruins about Ullmark at the trade deadline & i read a recent report that the Canes are still interested. Poor reporting on his part to not have them on his likely destinations list. The Kings are on Ullmark’s no trade list & Colorado could be. Not sure what Colorado would trade the Bruins in a deal anyway.
Canes wanted him at the Deadline because Andersen was just coming back from clotting. He’s under contract as is Koochie. I like Ullmark more than Andersen but moving Andersen’s contract could be tough.
Are you saying that a Eastern Conference Stanley Cup rival would trade a goalie to make their competitor better?
In the right deal, yes. They would trade him to Carolina for Necas (maybe a pick as well). They’ll trade him to where the get the best return, at least from the teams Ullmark will go to
The best offer I’d make for Ullmark is my lame duck goalie at 50%.
Vanacek at half his AAV for Ullmark or Korpisalo at half his AAV for Ullmark, etc.
BUF thought he was replaceable and he might well be a product of Montgomery’s system.
Sadly Monty’s “system” is low-event hockey where he lets his goalies get blasted with 35+ shots per night. Swayman stole a lot of games for Boston this season, and Ullmark has done the same in the past. He’s not a magic bullet for bad teams, but even with a semi-competent defense in front of him Ullmark should be an upgrade for any/all teams mentioned.
LOL, Ullmark is NOT going to SJ!!!!!!!
Shot quantity and quality aren’t the same. I don’t see Boston giving up many high danger chances.
I like Ullmark. I thought he was decent with BUF even, but…there is a difference between being an upgrade and being the answer.
An upgrade that is not the answer is a waste of time and resources.
Only giving up so much for a maybe, especially to a team that needs to move him in a market with other options.
NOT a fan of any these teams mentioned but some possible deals:
To Ottawa: Ullmark
To Boston: Forsberg, Norris, Boston’s 1st
To NJ: Ullmark
To Boston: Mercer, 1st, Schmid
To LA: Ullmark
To Boston: Danault, 1st, Dvorak
You clearly don’t know what goalies are worth or are a Boston fan. Those trades are horrible for the other teams.
Boston fans are not known for their ability to touch grass.
Not a fan of Boston at all. I actually hate them. But the goalie market is weak, no number 1 FA and only a couple of true #1s available via trade. We’ll circle back to this discussion if/when he gets traded and review lol.
Danault….lolololol
You look in the mirror?
Looked in the mirror, have we?
What do you mean? I liked your answer. Meaning I agree and we will see. Also, I hate Boston too so I thought it was done.
Bruins aren’t taking a goalie back in an Ullmark trade. I don’t think they want Norris because of his injury histroy. He can’t seem to stay on the ice. Still don’t think Ullmark agrees to go LA.
GK trade market hasn’t been great over the past few seasons. I think there’s a reason why no higher end GK contract or signing rights have been traded since Kuemper a few years ago. If I was a Bruins fan I’d temper my expectations for an Ullmark return.
I’m not completely sold on Ullmark… I’m not sure he thrives without a strong defence and a steady tandem to work with. I would love to maybe see him on Columbus, but they may be on their way to solving the goalie problems internally – and I doubt anyone signs on a dotted line to williny accept a trade there.
He had good #’s in Buffalo!
Yeah, but that was in tandem with Luukonen, was it not?
No, Carter Hutton, Jonas Johannson, who were for the most part sub .900
Ullmark was .915 in 34 games in 2019-20
What are the top goalies on the market and where does Ullmark rank (combine skill and salary) Markstrom, Ullmark, Saros, Lindgren and/or Keumpner, Grubauer, Merkins etc? Which goalies get a 1st rounder in return? just the top 3 in this list probably.
He’s going to the Kings or Avalanche. The Kings are on his no trade clause but I’m unsure about The Avalanche. He may will willing to waive his NTC for the right situation. Boston doesn’t want to trade with another Eastern hockey team if they can help it.
Boston will trade him to wherever they get the best value. Avs aren’t trading for another 1B goalie with the lack of cap space. Ditto the Kings unless they unload PLD or Kali. Preds could be in on him if they trade Saros for Marner. Of the bottom four teams in each division, the Canadiens wont trade for him (rebuild), Ottawa already spent money on Korps, Columbus also has money tied up in goalies, leaving only NJ as a possibility. Out West the Sharks are rebuilding, Anaheim has a goalie, Blackhawks wont commit to a goalie until their core is built/drafted, leaving only Phoenix, ahem, Salt Lake. By this line of thinking I’d imagine he ends up in NJ if they can’t get Markstrom, Nashville if they trade Saros or SLC if they want to start year 1 with a splash. Everything else seems highly unlikely.
I would also add SJ (can offer him a lot of money) if they need to hit the cap floor and also Philly if Hart is unavailable.
Don’t be surprised if the extend Ullmark and trade Swayman they really like Bussi they signed the CFA (Ryan Bische?) from ND and DiPietro
DiPietro is an average goalie in the AHL. He isn’t NHL material at all.
Brady Tachuck (sp?) from Ottawa is the only way I’d trade him in division