The Ottawa Senators are reportedly still in hot pursuit of Linus Ullmark.
The list of potential suitors for Linus Ullmark is drying up ahead of next week’s NHL Draft.
With the veteran’s time in Boston likely coming to a close this summer amid Jeremy Swayman’s ascension as the team’s No. 1 netminder, several teams in need of reinforcements between the pipes have been linked to the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner.
But with Ullmark holding significant sway over his next destination thanks to the no-trade protection granted in his contract, the 30-year-old goalie has the means to halt a few potential deals for Boston — with the Bruins’ own asking price for Ullmark potentially prompting other teams to look elsewhere for goalie help.
Look no further than Wednesday night, with the Devils acquiring goalie Jacob Markstrom from the Flames in exchange for defenseman Kevin Bahl and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick.
In a subsequent move, the Los Angeles Kings plucked Darcy Kuemper out of Washington, with the Capitals acquiring established malcontent Pierre-Luc Dubois in the swap.
The Devils in particular felt like an great fit for the Bruins and Ullmark, who could have been tempted to waive his no-trade protection to join a talented New Jersey team poised for a bounce-back season.
But what about the Ottawa Senators, a team that has been regularly linked to Ullmark throughout this offseason?
While Ullmark would likely need to sign off on a trade to the Senators, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported on Thursday that the Bruins goalie would be willing to accept a trade to Ottawa.
“There is a growing belief that Ullmark will find a new home within the next two weeks,” Pagnotta wrote. “The Bruins have other holes to fill, and with Jeremy Swayman about to cash in on a big contract extension – I’m told those discussions are moving positively – Ullmark is preparing for a potential move.
“[Don] Sweeney is expected to escalate some those other trade talks as early today, though it is unclear how many teams remain in the hunt. As I mentioned on NHL Network on Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators pushed for Ullmark during the season and have recently circled back in a big way. … Ottawa is also believed to be on [Ullmark’s no-trade] list, but two separate sources have told me he would accept a trade to the Senators if a deal between the two teams is finalized.”
Several reports have tabbed the Senators — whose team save percentage of .884 ranked 31st of 32 teams last season — as a franchise in hot pursuit of Ullmark.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported in May that Ottawa tried to acquire Ullmark at the trade deadline in March. Citing a league executive, Garrioch added that “the Senators would likely have to offer [defenseman] Jakob Chychrun along with a first-round pick and another selection to acquire Ullmark.”
While the Senators currently hold both the No. 7 pick and No. 25 pick in this upcoming draft, Ottawa senior vice president Dave Poulin acknowledged earlier this month that the Sens would move that No. 7 selection for the right price this offseason.
Acquiring any first-round selection in exchange for Ullmark would be viewed as a nice haul for Boston, especially when factoring in the added cap space that comes with moving Ullmark’s $5 million cap hit off the books.
But adding a top-10 selection or a top-four fixture like Chychrun would be a steal for Boston, especially given Ullmark’s standing as a luxury on the Bruins’ roster.
Ottawa’s interest in Ullmark doesn’t seem to have any waned following Wednesday’s flurry of goalie moves.
“While league sources told Postmedia earlier in the day the Senators had already had stepped up their efforts to acquire goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins, Ottawa may be the last serious team in the mix,” Garrioch wrote in a story published Wednesday, adding: “League sources say the Senators have circled back to the Bruins to see if there’s a fit to acquire Ullmark to steady the club’s struggling net and those talks have intensified.”
Given the rumored returns linked to the Bruins in a deal involving Ottawa, Boston likely would have no qualms about moving Ullmark to another team in the Atlantic Divison.
But it might come down to whether or not Ullmark, who is entering the final year of his contract, would want to entrench himself on an Ottawa roster high on talent, but lacking in defensive fortitude.
Ottawa may not be as appealing of a destination for a goalie as, say, the Devils or the Hurricanes.
But if Ullmark is willing to sign off on a trade (especially if he secures a long-term contract in the process), the Bruins’ best shot of landing a sizable return for their talented netminder likely rests with a desperate team like Ottawa.
