Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (18) celebrates with teammates after his goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
NHL Rumours: Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils
The NHL trade deadline is over, but we still have a number of NHL rumours. We’re still dealing with the fallout of what happened last week. However, that doesn’t mean the NHL rumours are going to stop. Some deals were close to happening while others may have to wait until the summertime. Today’s NHL rumours is a Swedish goalie edition. We feature the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils in today’s edition.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
Analysis: Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have formed a key partnership in the Bruins’ success so far this season. In contrast, it may not be a sustainable model. Swayman is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent at the end of the season. He’s probably going to command way more than his current $3.475 million cap hit. Trading Ullmark would have helped the Bruins have enough to probably give Swayman the deal he deserves. Boston also would have been free to make more moves other than adding Pat Maroon at the deadline.
Weekes said that geography may have played a hand in Ullmark nixing a trade. The Swedish netminder has a 16-team no-trade list and can pretty much decide where he wants to go if management wants to deal him. Moreover, General Manager Don Sweeney didn’t answer if Ullmark used the no-trade clause to veto a deal. “I mean, at the end of the day, I’m not ever going to get into a conversation with what I may have talked to Linus about,” Sweeney said to the media.
Some may be annoyed that Ullmark did not decide to go to a team like the Kings where he’d be the unquestioned number one goalie. However, there were likely factors other than hockey that were at play. Ullmark has also earned the right to decide where he wants to go. Those protections were in the contract that he negotiated with Sweeney and Bruins management.
