What Don Sweeney said about Linus Ullmark reportedly blocking a larger trade
"I've acknowledged that we've explored different situations. And we had opportunities to move different players."
The Bruins bolstered their depth ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline, adding a third-pairing defenseman in Andrew Peeke and a fourth-line bruiser in Pat Maroon.
But according to several reports, the Bruins were trying to orchestrate a larger deal involving the reigning Vezina Trophy winner in Linus Ullmark.
According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the Bruins were unable to strike a deal with the Kings that would have sent Ullmark out west.
“Fascinating day for #NHLBruins, sounds like they had a deal on the table to move G Linus Ullmark to #LAKings that didn’t end up crossing the finish line,” Seravalli posted on X.
Earlier on Friday, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes echoed a similar sentiment on the network’s “The Point” show about Ullmark and a potential blockbuster move.
“There was a deal that he essentially nixed, in large part based on geography, I’m told,” Weekes said, as posted by @PuckReportNHL on X.
Ullmark, 30, is signed through next season at a $5 million cap hit. He currently sports 16-team no-trade list, which gave him some leverage in any potential deal concocted by Boston.
With the Bruins short on both appealing NHL trade chips and cap space, Ullmark stood as a viable option for Don Sweeney and Co. if Boston was set on orchestrating a significant roster retool before Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
Speaking after the trade deadline passed, Sweeney did not confirm whether or not Ullmark used the no-trade clause to block a potential deal.
“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. “I’ve acknowledged that we’ve explored different situations. And we had opportunities to move different players, but I’m not getting into the intricacies of what’s in somebody’s contract at this point in time.”
Boston’s GM did admit that the Bruins did their due diligence when it came to exploring every avenue to improve this current roster, even if it meant subtracting from arguably the team’s top strength in net.
But regardless of Ullmark’s contract status, Sweeney added that a deal would only be struck if Boston was satisfied with the return.
“I made no bones that if I had to rob from a real strength of this hockey club, that was something we may have to do if it made our team ultimately better,” Sweeney said. “And we didn’t move in that direction. But that’s not an indictment on the two great goaltenders we have. It’s been a real strength of our hockey club from day one.”
Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun tabbed Ullmark as a potential target for the New Jersey Devils — who desperately needed reinforcements in net.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman shared a similar thought during his “32 Thoughts” column posted on Monday — noting that the Bruins could gain either future assets or proven NHL talent if they deemed Ullmark an expendable asset.
Weekes added further credence to a potential Ullmark deal — either with the Kings or Devils — on early Friday morning.
A potential deal with the Kings could have secured a useful NHLer for the Bruins, be it a pivot like Pierre-Luc Dubois (a talent at just 25 years old, but one with plenty of baggage and a hefty contract) or a defenseman like Matt Roy.
But for now, the Bruins will move ahead with its tried-and-true tandem of Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman in net this season.
“I think both goalies benefit from having a strong relationship and pushing each other — knowing it’s hard to get the net, [because] the other guy’s really good, too,” Sweeney said. “And the team responds to that as well because both guys are highly motivated. … I think both guys are competitive and internally driven to not give the net up. It’s not a fait accompli that they alternate every night, they know that. … But it’s a competitive advantage for us.”
Following Boston’s 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs on Thursday, Swayman was candid about the trade rumors hovering over his teammate.
“I mean, that guy is my brother for life and he’s a huge reason why we’ve had success every year,” Swayman said postgame of Ullmark. “I have no doubt that there’s not going to be any surprises hopefully. I love that guy to death. Whatever happens, happens. It’s a business. I know it just as well. Whatever happens, happens. We’ve dealt with it over the years. I mean, I don’t even want to think about that.”
A Ullmark trade will likely be revisited this offseason, especially if Swayman eventually inks a long-term extension before this summer.
Boston has benefited from having the luxury of having two No. 1 netminders in place, but something might have to give if the Bruins are suddenly allocating $11-12 million to that area of the roster in 2024-25 and beyond.
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