According to multiple NHL reports, the Bruins are considering trading the 30-year-old Vezina Trophy winner in the final year of his contract, shifting their focus to the younger Jeremy Swayman. Despite his age, Ullmark brings valuable experience with 249 NHL games under his belt and a Vezina Trophy win in 2023. His $5M salary is seen as quite manageable, making him an attractive target for teams looking to bolster their goaltending strength.
As rumors of Ullmark's availability spread, the Edmonton Oilers have been frequently mentioned as a possible destination. The Oilers, facing their own playoff challenges, are reconsidering their goaltending strategy after Stuart Skinner's struggles in the postseason. Integrating Ullmark could transform the Oilers' goalie situation from a point of weakness to a significant strength. Oilers fans are already voicing strong support for acquiring Ullmark, reflecting the high community and fanbase interest in this potential move.
This year's trade deadline saw the Bruins affirming Swayman as their goalie of the future, though an attempted trade involving Ullmark was thwarted by his modified no-trade clause, blocking a move to the Los Angeles Kings. However, it's anticipated that the Bruins will revisit these trade discussions, with Ullmark likely to consent to a trade in the upcoming offseason. Besides the Kings, teams like the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils have also shown strong interest in Ullmark.
Meanwhile, tonight's game 6 presents a critical opportunity for Skinner to prove his mettle as a playoff goalie for the Oilers. This game could mark a turning point in his career—either confirming his ability to perform under playoff pressure or signaling the need for Edmonton to prioritize a significant upgrade in their goaltending lineup this offseason.
As the NHL offseason approaches, the dynamics of goalie trades are set to become a hot topic, with Ullmark's situation being a key storyline to watch. Teams across the league will be closely monitoring developments, gauging how they might benefit from the shifting landscape in the Bruins' and Oilers' crease strategies.
POLL | ||
18 MAI | 42 ANSWERS Oilers among teams interested in trading for Bruins' Linus Ullmark Do you think the Oilers should trade for Ullmark in the offseason? | ||
Yes, go get Ullmark | 38 | 90.5 % |
No, Skinner is a bona fide starter | 2 | 4.8 % |
See Results | 2 | 4.8 % |
List of polls |