The commerce
Senators get: Goalie Linus Ullmark
Bruins get: Goalie Joonas Korpisalo (Senators retain 25 % of wage), middle Mark Kastelic, first-round choose (No. 25) in 2024.
GO DEEPER
Bruins commerce Linus Ullmark to Senators for 2024 first-rounder, Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic
The Bruins seemingly didn’t need to maneuver on from Linus Ullmark. He was an elite 1A in 2022-23 when he saved 38 targets above anticipated in 49 video games on his approach to a Vezina Trophy. Then he was a stellar 1B to Jeremy Swayman this previous season.
However the reality is that Swayman is the Bruins’ future, not Ullmark, and the remainder of the league knew that. Swayman’s wonderful common season and postseason confirmed it. With Ullmark’s contract expiring in 2025, the clock was ticking to make this transfer.
So Boston did lose some leverage. And Ullmark’s management within the scenario added one other hurdle — he had a 15-team no-trade record which restricted the Bruins’ choices. If the thought was to incorporate a contract extension within the commerce, their choices would have dwindled much more.
However on the finish of the day, the twenty fifth choose within the NHL Draft on Friday, Mark Kastelic and Joonas Korpisalo mixed don’t equal almost the worth Ullmark brings to a lineup. And none of those items deal with Boston’s most urgent wants upfront.
Possibly the twenty fifth choose might be flipped. Possibly Korpisalo might be serviceable behind Swayman — the Bruins’ protection is lots nearer to the Kings, which he thrived behind, than Ottawa’s. Or perhaps he might be flipped as soon as extra, with one other chunk of his wage retained. Possibly Boston simply buys him out.
However perhaps shouldn’t be ok for a staff’s high commerce asset and among the finest goalies available on the market, even with all leverage issues in thoughts and no contract extension.
On the flip facet, the Senators are a fairly excellent touchdown spot for Ullmark. Ottawa had one of many weakest creases within the league this previous season with Korpisalo, Anton Forsberg and Mads Sogaard permitting a collective 26.7 targets above anticipated. They have been a high staff to amass a goaltender this summer time if they might transfer out Korpisalo’s contract which proved to be an entire catastrophe in 12 months 1.
Managing to maneuver Korpisalo out and convey again Ullmark in a single shot is a big win. The Senators want two issues this summer time: Distinction-makers who will assist push them over the hump as quickly as potential, and stability in purpose. Ullmark ought to accomplish each. The one query is how he’ll fare behind the Senators’ protection because the Bruins have been a really strong defensive staff in entrance of him the final two years. However it’s a guess price taking contemplating what they have been working with earlier than the commerce.
Would it not assist to have a contract extension in place? Certain. However it additionally doesn’t harm that the Senators aren’t overcommitting to a different massive contract after shifting out one that would have sunk them.
The price is admittedly nothing to shrug at for Ottawa both, even with the 25 % wage retained for Korpisalo. The Senators have spent years gathering draft picks and bolstering their prospect pipeline. Shifting on from the twenty fifth choose is simply advantageous for a staff that also has the seventh choose, which has a a lot better probability of delivering worth within the close to future.
Bruins grade: C
Senators grade: A
(Photograph of Linus Ullmark: Bob DeChiara / USA Right now)