NHL Insider Reveals The Bruins Plans For Linus Ullmark During The Off-Season

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Hunter Bowman
March 16, 2024 (8:53)

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Speculation had been rampant about veteran goalie Linus Ullmark possibly leaving the Boston Bruins, especially as the NHL trade deadline loomed. However, recent revelations show that a potential deal fell apart because Ullmark decided to exercise his trade protection rights.

In his recent Sportsnet article "32 Thoughts," Elliotte Friedman delves into the failed trade and reveals which team was close to acquiring Ullmark before he vetoed the move.

Friedman notes that it was a challenging time for Ullmark, who expressed a strong desire to stay with the Bruins. Despite this, the Bruins explored various options, even considering destinations where Ullmark had no veto power. But in the end, nothing panned out, leaving Ullmark with the Bruins for now.

Looking ahead, Friedman predicts an interesting goalie market in the summer, with many teams retracting their goalies from potential trades. This surplus of talent might lead the Bruins to rethink splitting up their goalie duo, given the heightened competition for available netminders.

The failed trade serves as a lesson for the Bruins. Ullmark's contract allows him to list 16 teams where he can't be traded, and he'll get to submit a new list before the next season. This experience of almost being traded before the deadline will likely influence Ullmark's decisions on which teams to include, potentially complicating future trade talks for the Bruins.

Source: Bruinsinsider