Although all eyes in the hockey world will be trained on Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in South Florida on Monday night, business continues for the 30 franchises not named the Florida Panthers or Edmonton Oilers. And it's a busy week in the National Hockey League; a champion will be crowned on Monday, the draft is set for Friday, and free agent frenzy kicks off in exactly a week on July 1. The Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins figure to be two of the busier front offices this offseason, and there are rumblings this week that the two franchises could have a Linus Ullmark trade in the works.
Although the former Vezina Trophy winner has made it clear he wants to stay in Boston, it looks like it will be the Jeremy Swayman show in 2024-25. As the trade market heats up for the veteran netminder, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reported on Monday that the most likely scenario is the B's trading the Swede to the Sens — and it could get done as soon as this week.
“Lots of eyes are on the Ottawa Senators this week. They have been very active on several fronts, including trying to land Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins,” Pagnotta confirmed. “As I reported a few days ago, Ullmark is willing to waive his NTC for the Senators (they are currently on his 14-team no-trade list), and if the two sides can reach an agreement on a contract extension, which he cannot officially sign until July 1, this should get to the finish line this week.”
With Ullmark already 30-years-old and having just a year left on his deal, it makes sense that Boston would look to move him rather than watch him leave for nothing in free agency next summer.
But do the Senators have the assets to land the star goaltender?
Can Senators afford Linus Ullmark?
The Senators already made a push for Ullmark during the season, and it makes sense that they're circling back after Jacob Markstrom and Darcy Kuemper were just taken off the market.
But acquiring the former Buffalo Sabres draftee will come with a hefty price, regardless of his contract situation.
“Talks between the Bruins and Senators are ongoing, but Boston is not interested in taking back Joonas Korpisalo in a trade – Korpisalo has four more years left on his contract and comes with a $4 million cap hit – and Ottawa GM Steve Staios will need to be creative if he wants to land Ullmark or another No.1 netminder,” reported Pagnotta last week.
The Senators could dangle a young defenseman like Erik Brannstrom, but most likely the Bruins' brass would want Jakob Chychrun along with some draft capital. That could make sense for the Senators.
Although all three of Nashville Predators' Juuse Saros, Minnesota Wild's Filip Gustavsson and Anaheim Ducks' John Gibson remain potentially available, it looks like the Sens have zeroed in on Ullmark, and will not be swayed.
“There is a growing belief that Ullmark will find a new home within the next two weeks. The Bruins have other holes to fill, and with Jeremy Swayman about to cash in on a big contract extension – I’m told those discussions are moving positively – Ullmark is preparing for a potential move,” Pagnotta confirmed.
A Senators-Bruins Linus Ullmark trade certainly makes sense, and if it crosses the finish line, the return for Boston will be very interesting. It will be intriguing to see if one of the league's better goaltenders is still based in Massachusetts when free agent frenzy kicks off on July 1.
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