Report: Bruins Almost Parted Ways With Vezina Winning Goalie
The Boston Bruins lineup has been thrown in a blender this offseason. The retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the loss of Tyler Bertuzzi in free agency, and now another move that almost happened. The Bruins have been in need of more cap space and were close to using their best goaltender to get it.
Ullmark Shipped Out
According to a new report, Linus Ullmark was almost potentially traded. The Bruins needed cap space to try and improve their top-heavy roster. On top of this, Jeremy Swayman had a great season showing he could be a potential number one goalie. These circumstances led to the Bruins getting very far along in trade talks to send the 2023 Vezina Trophy Winner out of Boston.
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Knowing their cap situation and how they had to ditch money, teams were eager to rip the Bruins off at every stop and turn. (The fact that they didn't have to throw in a pick to get rid of Taylor Hall's $6 million salary is probably a miracle, though it explains why the Bruins received two minor-league defensemen in exchange for Hall.) Ullmark also had considerable trade protection, with a no-trade clause that required his consent to be traded to about half the league.
My understanding — and this is through some backchannel rumblings and conversations, so take it with a grain of salt, of course — is that there was one team out there who had interest in giving Sweeney and the Bruins what would you consider a fair, market value return for Ullmark. But that trade would have required a corresponding trade that never happened, and it would have also required Ullmark agreeing to waive his no-trade clause.
- Ty Anderson
My understanding — and this is through some backchannel rumblings and conversations, so take it with a grain of salt, of course — is that there was one team out there who had interest in giving Sweeney and the Bruins what would you consider a fair, market value return for Ullmark. But that trade would have required a corresponding trade that never happened, and it would have also required Ullmark agreeing to waive his no-trade clause.
- Ty Anderson
The Bruins were open to allowing Ullmark to leave Boston but due to a lack of other moves, the deal fell apart. Depending on the time Ullmark could have blocked the trade as well killing the deal. Unfortunately, we do not know the details of any of the rumored negotiations. If the Bruins continue to need extra help heading into the season Ullmark could be a prime candidate for a trade due to the emergence of Jeremy Swayman.
Swayman Here To Stay In Boston
According to the same source the Boston Bruins are not interested in getting rid of Jeremy Swayman. There were also rumors that Swayman wanted out and that is apparently not true either.
As it relates to trading Jeremy Swayman, I don't think the Bruins were ever all that interested in doing that. I also know that there was a rumor out there that suggested that Swayman wanted a trade to be closer to family in Alaska. What I can tell you regarding that is that Swayman's parents no longer live in Alaska, and that that rumor is and was «bogus.»
- Ty Anderson
- Ty Anderson
It seems as though if a trade is to be made with a Bruins goalie it will be the former Vezina winner in Linus Ullmark that will be involved. Ullmark is still only 30 years old and would likely still have a ton of value in a trade. If the Bruins still feel the need for a big splash to fix up their center depth Ullmark could be the key.
| POLL | ||
5 SEPTEMBRE | 71 ANSWERS Report: Bruins Almost Parted Ways With Vezina Winning Goalie Will the Boston Bruins trade Linus Ullmark? | ||
| Yes | 28 | 39.4 % |
| No | 43 | 60.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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