The Boston Bruins wasted no time addressing their goaltending situation as the offseason began, opting to trade Linus Ullmark, the reigning 2023 Vezina Trophy winner, to the Ottawa Senators. In return, the Bruins received goalie Joonas Korpisalo, forward Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first-round draft pick.
For Boston, the trade represents a significant move, considering they had committed $20 million to Ullmark in a contract signed before the 2021-22 season. However, Jeremy Swayman had assumed the starting role midway through the 2023-24 season and was pivotal during the playoffs, starting 12 of the team’s 13 postseason games. As a result, Swayman was anticipated to begin the 2024-25 season as Boston’s top goaltender.
According to the Boston Globe, the Bruins declined to comment on the trade initially, opting to defer discussion to General Manager Don Sweeney, scheduled to address the matter before the NHL draft.
In a statement, Sweeney expressed gratitude towards Ullmark, acknowledging his partnership with Swayman that succeeded Tuukka Rask as Boston’s primary goaltending tandem in the 2021-22 season.
Meanwhile, Ottawa is banking on Ullmark’s potential resurgence, particularly after he showcased his capabilities with the Buffalo Sabres from 2015 to 2021 before truly coming into his own during his second season with the Bruins. In 2023, the 30-year-old from Lugnvik, Sweden excelled with a league-leading 40 wins, a 1.89 goals-against average, and a .938 save percentage, culminating in him securing the Vezina Trophy.
During the 2023-24 season, Ullmark started in 39 games for the Bruins, tallying a 22-10-7 record with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. In contrast, Swayman started in 43 games, accumulating a 25-10-8 record with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
Simultaneously, Boston signed goaltender Brandon Bussi to a one-year, two-way contract on Monday, with a manageable salary cap hit of $775,000, ostensibly positioning him to potentially serve as Swayman’s backup.
The acquisition of Korpisalo raises questions about his role within the Bruins’ goaltending structure. He could compete with Bussi for the backup position behind Swayman, or alternatively, Boston might explore trading him to a team in need of goaltending depth during the upcoming draft. Reports indicate that Ottawa is retaining 25 percent of the $16 million remaining on Korpisalo’s contract for salary cap purposes, which could facilitate his movement if Boston opts for a Swayman-Bussi tandem.
In the 2023-24 season, Korpisalo registered a 21-26-4 record with a 3.27 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage. The 30-year-old Finn has accumulated an 87-78-24 record over a decade-long career spanning stints with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, and Senators.
As for Kastelic, the 25-year-old forward contributed 10 points in 63 games during the past season, his second in the NHL.
Interestingly, the 2024 first-round draft pick, number 25 overall, originally belonged to the Bruins. They had traded it to the Detroit Red Wings as part of the Tyler Bertuzzi trade package in 2023. Subsequently, the Red Wings moved the pick to the Senators as part of the Alex DeBrincat trade.
Overall, the trade between the Bruins and the Senators signifies a strategic maneuver for both teams, addressing immediate needs while setting the stage for future developments heading into the offseason and beyond in the NHL landscape.
Leave a Reply