Linus Ullmark admits his future has ‘crossed his thoughts’

NASHVILLE — After posting historic common season numbers in 2022-23, Linus Ullmark arrived on the Music Metropolis because the heavy odds-on favourite to seize his first Vezina Award.

However there’s an opportunity Ullmark could possibly be making his final public look(s) as a member of the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins enter one more low season of uncertainty following their stunning and disappointing first-round loss to the Florida Panthers. Boston has just a little over $4.9 million of wage cap house. As David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron proceed to mull over their futures, the Bruins could have six different unrestricted free brokers scheduled to hit the open market on July 1 — Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, Nick Foligno, Tomas Nosek and Connor Clifton — and a pair of pending restricted free brokers in Trent Frederic and Jeremy Swayman.

Between their in-house free agent class and pursuing potential trades, a handful of present Bruins enter the summer season as potential wage cap areas. And Ullmark’s identify has been entrance and middle of the rumor mill.

The Swede carries a $5 million cap hit and a 16-team no-trade clause over the following two seasons. Given Swayman’s possible pay elevate and Boston’s cap crunch, the Bruins might have to interrupt up considered one of hockey’s dynamic goaltending duos.

“It’s crossed my thoughts, yeah. I’m not going to lie,” Ullmark stated throughout Sunday’s media availability for the league’s award nominees. “That’s the enterprise a part of it. That’s the world we dwell in.”

Ullmark’s numbers in 2022-23 spoke for themselves, posting profession marks in wins (40), save share (.938) and targets in opposition to common (1.89). He additionally grew to become the primary Bruin netminder in franchise historical past to attain an empty-net tally, conducting the feat on Feb. 25 in Vancouver.

An affordable $5 million cap hit might entice potential suitors needing a top-tier goaltender. Even Ullmark’s shaky performances in Video games 5 and 6 of the Florida collection shouldn’t dissuade the handful of squads hoping to land an improve in internet.

And whereas admitting the opportunity of taking part in elsewhere, Ullmark’s perspective over the commerce hypothesis even-keeled.

“I attempt not to consider it an excessive amount of,” Ullmark stated. “For me, that’s not essential. At any time when that day comes, or if it ever comes, that’s one thing I’ve received to take care of at that time.”

If it have been as much as Ullmark, he’d stay a Bruin. However retaining Ullmark and Swayman collectively presents a problem.

Ullmark, Taylor Corridor and Matt Grzelcyk all discover themselves as potential wage cap casualties. Ideally, the Bruins wish to preserve the Swayman-Ullmark tandem collectively.

Swayman appeared in 4 fewer video games within the second season of his pairing with Ullmark. Nonetheless, the previous UMaine star posted profession bests in wins (24), targets in opposition to common (2.27) and shutouts (4).

“When you will have two goalies which can be so shut relating to stats, there’s [probably] going to be some adjustments,” Ullmark stated.

“I feel for each of us, we need to be collectively, and we need to keep in Boston as a result of that’s the place we thrived, and also you’ve seen the success that we’ve had. We simply need to see. There’s a private facet to it, and there’s a enterprise facet to it. You’ve received to honor it, and that’s simply what being a hockey participant is.”

Ullmark could have a greater thought about his future within the coming days. Jim Montgomery will possible decide to splitting the begins between Ullmark and Swayman in the event that they each return.

But, the Jack Adams Award nominee stays assured that Ullmark and Swayman can deal with an intensive workload if solely considered one of them returns to the Bruins.

“Sure,” Montgomery stated. “That’s a simple reply. They’re each constant, they usually’re each extraordinarily pushed.”

Ullmark will possible be a part of Pelle Lindberg and the latest Corridor of Fame nominee Henrik Lundqvist within the Sweden Vezina fraternity on Monday night time. Whether or not the Bruins have Ullmark and Swayman again within the fold for his or her centennial season, nevertheless, is anybody’s guess.