One of the Ottawa Senators’ tasks this summer will be to strengthen the team’s net situation and Ottawa Citizen reporter Bruce Garrioch believes the team will take another chance with goaltender Linus Ullmark .
The salary restrictions of the Bruins – who will have to come to an agreement with Jeremy Swayman – as well as the Senators’ active search for a quality goaltender make these two teams perfect dance partners for a trade.
Senators general manager Steve Staios made an offer to the Bruins at the trade deadline, which included goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and his impressive contract, but Boston declined the offer.
If they want to come back and make an offer that will please the Bruins, they will definitely have to pay top dollar. According to what an NHL executive told Garrioch, the Senators will have to send defenseman Jakob Chychrun, a first-round pick as well as another draft pick to acquire the goaltender.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney didn’t speculate too much during the team’s end-of-season review on Ullmark’s place with the Bruins next season, but he is aware of the salary restrictions he will have to maneuver within .
“We’re going to find some ground to get along with Jeremy Swayman, and if we can make the math work, we’re going to have the best goalie tandem. If we can’t, we will explore options. Linus might change his mind too,” Sweeney said.
“Right now, we are very happy with the signing of Linus and in an ideal world, we could keep our goalkeeping duo because I think they are excellent. But we will explore the opportunities. My phone will ring and I will make calls. It’s my job. »
Ullmark is still under contract for one season at an average annual salary of $5 million. His contract, however, has a clause that allows him to submit a list of 15 teams to which he would refuse to be traded.
Recipient of the Vezina Trophy last season, Ullmark did very well again this season with an efficiency percentage of .915 and a goals against average of 2.58, but he only got one start in the playoffs.
Ullmark could therefore solidify the goaltending situation in Ottawa, which negatively contributed to the Senators’ failures in 2023-2024. Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg both finished the season with an .890 save percentage and a goals-against average above 3.20.
In his text, Garrioch added that the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings will be two other teams in the race to acquire Ullmark.
