The Bruins reportedly had a trade in place sending 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark out of town before the deadline, but the deal was blocked by Ullmark’s 16-team no-trade list, Kevin Weekes of ESPN said on “The Point” on Friday. According to Weekes, the team was on Ullmark’s no-trade list due to “geography.” Per Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the Kings were the team close to acquiring Ullmark.
No reports have indicated what other pieces were involved in trade talks. Ullmark’s no-trade list decreases to only 15 teams next season, so it’s unlikely the Kings will be able to circle back on him before he becomes a free agent in 2025. If he was unwilling to waive a no-trade clause, it’s unlikely he’d accept an offer from them in free agency, either.
Ullmark is locked into a $5MM cap hit through next year, a bargain bin value considering his play since joining the Bruins in 2021. This year has been his worst campaign in Beantown, however. He has a 16-7-7 record, .909 SV%, 2.77 GAA, and one shutout through 30 starts and two relief appearances, more pedestrian numbers for a netminder who’s been well above average the past three years. His 5.4 goals saved above average is much closer to the level of play he displayed during his last few seasons with the Sabres – still starting-goalie caliber for most squads, but no longer on the Bruins, who have a budding star in Jeremy Swayman (.922 SV%, 21-6-8 record in 36 games).
The Swedish goalie broke out to record a league-high 40 wins, .938 SV%, 1.89 GAA, and 48.5 goals saved above average en route to a Jennings and Vezina Trophy win last year behind a record-breaking Bruins squad. His individual success had much to do with their overall record, posting one of the best seasons by any goalie in the post-lockout era.
The Kings are looking for stability in the crease, although a ragtag tandem of veterans David Rittich and Cam Talbot has performed well enough to keep them solidly in playoff contention despite some wild swings this year. Neither is signed past this season, however, and their pipeline is thin outside of top AHL rookie Erik Portillo.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Edmonton?
These guys really trading a a vezina winning goalie have a good season because they have another guy outperforming him meanwhile my Sens locked themselves into bums like Korpisalo and Murray for a decade worth of contracts.
LA ?
That’d be my guess.
Still, that does not excuse Rob from failing to get a legit goalie for now and the future. Would be interesting to know what was offered.
Blake’s 2024 goalie was an all star. His future goalie is Portillo who looks great in the AHL development system. So he’s done both?
Dosent really matter, the PL contract is clearly going to nuke the rebuild.
Portillo is years away. Talbot is a glorified backup… look at his most recent history before LA. They caught lightening in a bottle for almost 1/2 season; there was no way he was goining to maintain that workload with such efficiency. Rob put together a tandem of Copley and Talbot and now RIttich. Anyone confident with that? And he’s had years to fix the problem that started with a bad contract to Cal Peterson.
That’s PU not PL.
Talbot and Rittich have been fine lmao. Talbot has been on fire since his January struggles. Portillo will be ready by 25-26. That’s one more season. Vegas won a cup with 4 goalies.
Ask McLennan if they’ve were fine. LMAO.
Talbot and Rittich have been very good the past few weeks! My concern is that Talbot is playing too much. Since 2018-19 he has played over 40 games 1 time (49) He is already up to 40. Kings need to do a better job of rotating both goalies to keep them fresh! As for Blake. Kovalchuk, Petersen, PLDumb! Blake has a habit of over valuing and over paying! I can only imagine what he will pay Byfield next year after his breakout season! Hoping for a similar contract to Kempe 4 x $5.5 Mil.
You reiterated one of my points (thank you) that expecting Talbot to carry a heavy workload with efficiency is nearsighted. Some of the statements posted here seem to rely on opinion without supporting facts. I guess that’s to be expected.
Entire team got him fired. Not just the goalies.
I get that, but they contribued. Local radio reported poor locker room atmosphere, not sure.
Selfish. His buddy is gonna be shopped this summer
Not selfish at all. It is his right. The Bruins gave him the trade protection. The Bruins should’ve known he wouldn’t go to a team on his 16-team no-trade list.
No way they trade Swayman over Ullmark is there?
never say never, but, doubtful. I think the do move ullmark but, only to create more cap room, otherwise, probably, no sale.
Not likely, unless negotiations for a new deal with Swayman go south
Hardly selfish. The team gave him the clause. It’s like buying your kid a drum set and then yelling at him for playing it and making too much noise. You gave it to him don’t be pissed when he uses it. And the only thing his buddy is going to do this summer, if not before, is sign a long term deal while they find a trade partner for Linus. These things are much easioer to do in the off season.
Not buying this story whatsoever
So another year in Providence for Brandon Bussi.
maybe Bussi gets moved this summer. I like the kid.
It would be nice for him to at least get one call-up before he dies of old age in Providence.
Linus will get moved this summer and Bussi will be the #2 guy in Boston next year.