Bruins On The Verge Of Making A Massive Trade
The Boston Bruins have been exploring potential trade options for Linus Ullmark, even following his Vezina-winning season. The team's financial constraints have played a significant role in these considerations, especially with the recent activation of Jeremy Swayman's contract, which was secured for an AAV of $3.475 million. Many view Swayman as the future starting goaltender for the Bruins, and there's a compelling case for him to step into that role sooner rather than later.
While the Bruins acknowledge this, they seem to be waiting to gauge the performance of their newly structured center positions as the season kicks off. The early results haven't been catastrophic, as some had feared, but it's essential to remember that it's still early days. The team's top three centers, Pavel Zacha, Charlie Coyle, and Matthew Poitras, are under the microscope.
On the other side of the equation, the Los Angeles Kings are grappling with their goaltending situation. They've begun the season with a combined $2.5 million AAV for their two netminders, despite having a formidable defensive team. However, issues have already started to emerge, and the Kings' primary concern seems to be goaltending, with no clear solution on the horizon.
Additionally, the Kings boast three capable centers, and there's room for a potential move, especially with Blake Lizotte serving as the current fourth-line center and being able to step up like he did last season.
With these considerations in mind, a potential blockbuster trade that could benefit both sides is sending Ullmark to Los Angeles in exchange for Phillip Danault and another valuable asset to Boston. Danault is a highly regarded two-way centerman, a quality the Bruins have always valued on their roster. With the recent retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, Danault could seamlessly slot into the second-line center position, alleviating the team's need. Danault's contract extends for the next four seasons, while Ullmark has a two-year deal. This exchange makes sense from both a cap and positional perspective, addressing the most pressing concerns for each team.
