Linus Ullmark reflects on ‘emotional’ week amid trade rumors with Bruins
"Ever since day one, I loved it here. So I'm very happy with where I am right now."
The Bruins’ post-win routine followed a familiar script on Saturday evening at TD Garden.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Boston’s 5-1 win over the Penguins, Linus Ullmark (a season-high 38 saves) received each of his teammates for a fist bump, shoulder tap, etc. near the Bruins’ net.
The last in line, as always, was his fellow netminder in Jeremy Swayman. Their post-win hugs have become a familiar sight over the last few seasons, but Saturday’s held a bit more significance.
As Swayman skated toward Ullmark, he definitively pointed to the frozen sheet — perhaps signaling Ullmark’s entrenched status on Boston’s roster — before embracing for over 10 seconds.
For Ullmark, who trudged through a week of trade rumors leading up to Friday’s deadline, Saturday’s finish was a welcome result.
“There’s going to be some games you’re going to take with you a little bit longer and you gotta keep it a little bit in the memory bank and you pull it out from time to time,” Ullmark said postgame of his hug with Swayman and reception from the fans after earning No. 1 star. “So same thing there.
“I got emotional as well when Sway said all these nice words to me. And I would have done the same for him if he was in my shoes. It’s tough to talk about, but like I said, I’m just so gosh-darn happy.”
Based on reports over the last few days, it looked as though Thursday’s hug between Boston’s netminders might have been the final one as teammates.
With Boston short on tradeable assets and hampered by limited cap space, trading Ullmark stood as one of the few possible avenues available for Don Sweeney and his staff to significantly augment their roster.
Even though Ullmark stayed put after Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline passed, it reportedly wasn’t for a lack of effort on Boston’s part.
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.
“There was a deal that [Ullmark] essentially nixed, in large part based on geography, I’m told,” former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes added on ESPN’s “The Point” show on Friday.
Ullmark has leverage over the Bruins when it comes to trades, with the 30-year-old goalie and reigning Vezina Trophy winner sporting a 16-team, no-trade list.
Sweeney did not confirm or deny that Ullmark invoked that no-trade list to nix a potential deal on Friday, but added that Boston “had opportunities to move different players” before the deadline.
Ullmark took a page out of Sweeney’s book and did not confirm that he blocked a deal, but stressed his commitment to his current team.
“I’m just very happy to be here,” Ullmark said. “This is the team that I want to be [on]. I’m very fortunate to be part of this group. And ever since day one, I loved it here. So I’m very happy with where I am right now.”
This may not be the final time that Ullmark is mentioned in trade talks, especially if Swayman ends up signing a hefty extension later on this year.
Ullmark, who is signed through the 2024-25 season, could be dangled on the market again if Swayman’s new pay day results in Boston allocating $11-12 million to the goaltending position next year.
Such a conundrum will likely be revisited this summer. But amid the final leg of the regular season — and with the playoffs less than six weeks away — a candid Ullmark admitted that tuning out the trade whispers took its toll over this stressful stretch of games.
“Oh, thank god, yes,” Ullmark said when asked if he was relieved Friday’s deadline passed. “No, it’s tough. I mean. You try to act tough beforehand, you don’t want to show anything, you don’t want to show any emotion. It’s kind of like in a playoff situation as well. But it is tough on players.
“And this is the first time when I had to go through with actually being rumored about. I’ve always felt safe, you know. But then once it actually starts picking up more and more and more, you hear those outside noises, it takes a toll on you.
“And then there’s the emotional part of it. And then you start thinking about your family. And then all these questions just don’t have any answers to. So yes, I am very happy that it’s over with and very glad and happy to be here.”
Swayman, who has formed arguably the best goalie tandem in the NHL alongside Ullmark, praised his “brother for life” on Thursday.
Ullmark said that he had a “good conversation” with Patrice Bergeron this week about the anxieties that arrive for hundreds of NHLers around the deadline. A text from Charlie McAvoy on Friday “really hit home” for the veteran netminder.
“It kind of just shows what kind of a group and what kind of people there are on this team,” Ullmark admitted.
A break from trade rumors might be welcomed by Ullmark, but it’s only a momentary respite. Now, the pressure shifts for a goalie setting his sights toward greater returns in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where a tried-and-true goalie rotation with Swayman will hopefully lead to a fruitful run — and more hugs.
“It’s tough when your name is being thrown around in trade talks and stuff like that,” Brad Marchand said of potential trade chips like Ullmark and Jake DeBrusk. “And I’m sure they feel a lot better and a lot more at ease knowing that the belief is there within the group and with the team and they know where they’re going to be the rest of the year.
“So they both play great tonight. We’re going to need that going forward.”
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