NHL Insider reveals on his podcast the reason why Boston traded Linus Ullmark before July 1

But it may have all been by design as according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman's '32 Thoughts' podcast, there was a method to the Bruins' madness.

Boston took the initiative and traded Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators for a package which included Joonas Korpisalo, and a first rounder. It caught many in Beantown by surprise and while they expected Swayman to be #1 this upcoming season, Ullmark would have been a wonderful 1b for the team.

Per Elliotte Friedman, the reason the Bruins were so trigger happy to trade Ullmark a week before free agency was set to open up was due to the trade restrictions placed on Ullmark's contract. He would have been able to change the teams he would prefer to be traded to if the Bruins waited until July 1. They also did not need to ask the netminder for permission as Ottawa was already one of the teams selected, so they decided to strike while the iron was still hot.

Ullmark's departure in Boston opens up new doors in Ottawa; a team desperate to return to the playoffs for the first time in 7 years, and has a growing youth movement that although flashy and talented, lacks the veteran leadership as of now. Ottawa hasn't had a true #1 goaltender since Craig Anderson and even before then it was Patrick Lalime and Ullmark's entrance into the equation should significantly help the Senators.

He will also provide great wisdom and information to Carter Yakemchuk; the Senators prospective goaltender of the future. This decision could end up biting Boston if Swayman doesn't work out for some reason; leaving their Atlantic rivals with a leg up on them and it brings feelings of Boston being on the receiving end of a "Tuukka Rask".