This Goaltender May Have To Be Sacrificed
Since the Boston Bruins' elimination from the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 30th, trade rumors have swirled around their goaltending duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
Remarkably, the Bruins boasted the league's stingiest defense, surrendering a mere 177 goals, a staggering 36-goal difference from the second-ranked Carolina Hurricanes. This marks the largest gap between the top two teams since the 1990-91 Chicago Blackhawks outperformed the Montreal Canadiens by 38 goals.
Ullmark and Swayman formed an exceptional goaltending tandem, achieving a milestone as the first pair to see one goalie win 40 games while the other secured 20 or more victories. Ullmark, a 2023 Vezina Trophy finalist, posted an impressive 40-6-1 record with a 1.89 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Meanwhile, Swayman recorded a solid 24-6-4 record with a 2.27 GAA and a .920 save percentage.
Despite their goaltending success, the Bruins face salary cap constraints in the upcoming 2023-24 season. With numerous pending free agents, including Swayman, and limited cap space of around $5.2 million, tough decisions lie ahead.
Ullmark, who has two seasons remaining on his $20 million contract, has emerged as a subject of trade speculation, as his value may be at its peak. On the other hand, Swayman, being younger and more affordable, could offer the Bruins greater long-term flexibility.
While both goaltenders have their merits, the prevailing sentiment suggests that if a trade were to materialize, it would likely involve Ullmark. His name has been frequently mentioned in NHL trade discussions, and the Bruins may seize the opportunity to capitalize on his current value.
Source: Bostonhockeynow
| POLL | ||
Who would you rather keep? | ||
| Swayman is the better choice | 89 | 79.5 % |
| Ullmark has proven himself | 23 | 20.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
