Bruins
If the Bruins have to clear cap house and recoup property, shifting a goalie may be an possibility this summer season.
Don Sweeney acknowledged the plain in the course of the Bruins’ end-of-season press convention on Could 9.
“Roster adjustments are possible coming,” Boston’s common supervisor famous. “We’re not going to be the identical workforce.”
As a lot as Boston would like to roll out the identical roster that rewrote the file books in the course of the 2022-23 common season, it’s not potential in a salary-cap league.
With a bit of over $6 million in obtainable cap room, over $4.5 million in bonus overages on subsequent 12 months’s books, and no reply but with reference to their top-six facilities, Boston might want to make some drastic strikes this summer season in an effort to area a aggressive roster underneath the $83.5 million cap ceiling.
And whereas a lot of the cap-shaving measures proposed normally revolve round dealing our bodies off the blue line or up entrance, might a goalie commerce take advantage of sense for Boston?
Let’s run via the professionals and cons of what may very well be a franchise-altering transfer for the Bruins this summer season.
PRO: Your goalies are your high commerce chip
There are a selection of commerce chips that Boston may half with earlier than directing its consideration to both Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman.
On the blue line, no less than two of Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly, and Derek Forbort may must be moved.
Taylor Corridor and Jake DeBrusk are key cogs up entrance, however each gamers ought to draw some suitors if Boston is dangling them out in the marketplace.
And despite the fact that providing up a star like Charlie McAvoy or Hampus Lindholm would spur a feeding frenzy among the many remainder of the NHL, Boston isn’t shifting items that they view as a part of their subsequent core of expertise.
But when considered one of Ullmark or Swayman was obtainable, many groups may be keen to pony up a hefty haul of draft capital or different property.
Swayman’s an apparent blue-chip commerce goal, given his contract (restricted free agent), age (24), and the potential he’s showcased for a number of seasons.
But when Ullmark (who has his no-movement clause revert again to a 16-team no-trade checklist on July 1) was obtainable?
Be it the Kings, Oilers, or numerous different golf equipment felled by substandard goaltending, there will probably be no scarcity of determined front-office personnel keen to surrender a pleasant return in an effort to purchase the possible 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner.
If Boston must each shed a contract ($5 million cap hit for Ullmark) and recoup property like a first-round decide or a ahead/defenseman that aids in its rebuilding course of, concentrating on a place of energy like goaltending makes loads of sense.
PRO: Ullmark’s worth may by no means be larger
Whether or not or not it’s harm, fatigue, or an ill-timed regression from his sterling play between the pipes, Ullmark didn’t have a postseason to recollect.
Over six video games in opposition to the Panthers, Ullmark posted a 3-3 file with an .896 save proportion.
It was a stunning dip from his very good common season, when the 29-year-old netminder posted a 40-6-1 file, .938 save proportion, and 1.89 goals-against common.
Even his underlying metrics had been top-notch, along with his 42.4 objectives saved anticipated in all conditions rating second within the league behind Nashville’s Juuse Saros (46.7), per MoneyPuck.
However Ullmark’s season for the ages ought to nonetheless make him a valued commerce goal if Boston does certainly area affords for him.
And let’s face it, Ullmark’s worth could by no means be larger than this summer season, particularly if he’s topped the league’s high goalie.
PRO: Jeremy Swayman may very well be due for a breakout
Though shifting Ullmark brings its justifiable share of penalties, Boston does have fairly the contingency plan in Swayman.
Ullmark may take dwelling the Vezina subsequent month, however Swayman was no slouch as Boston’s backup in 2022-23
After posting a .887 save proportion over his first 10 video games, Swayman went on a heater as soon as the calendar flipped to 2023.
Over his ultimate 27 video games of the common season, Swayman posed a .929 save proportion. Solely Minnestoa’s Filip Gustavsson and Ullmark posted larger marks over that very same prolonged stretch.
In complete, the 24-year-old Swayman posted a 24-6-4 file with a .920 save proportion in 4 shutouts. His objectives saved above anticipated fee of 24.0 ranked eighth within the league, whereas his save proportion on high-danger photographs (.862) ranked fourth within the league amongst goalies with no less than 1,000 minutes of reps, per Pure Stat Trick.
If handed the keys to Boston’s No. 1 spot in internet, there’s quite a bit to love about what Swayman can supply in an elevated function.
Shifting Ullmark will even open the door for Boston to both signal a veteran backup at a a lot decrease fee, and even flip to 24-year-old Brandon Bussi. The Western Michigan product thrived in his first full season within the AHL, rating second within the league with a .925 save proportion.
CON: Shifting a goalie affords little by way of a security internet
Swayman may be poised for a bigger function, however there’s quite a bit that may go incorrect if Boston opts to maneuver out a longtime veteran like Ullmark.
Boston can avoid wasting change in the event that they roll with Swayman/Bussi in 2023-24, or perhaps a low cost backup.
But when Swayman does take a step again as Boston’s best choice, the Bruins don’t have somebody like Ullmark to fall again on to proper the ship. Not solely does that put stress on Swayman to ship, but additionally can put an unproven participant like Bussi in a nasty spot.
The Bruins can’t have a repeat of the 2014-15 season, when Jonas Gustavsson’s lackluster play not solely let Boston bleed factors, but additionally drained out Tuukka Rask (64 video games performed).
CON: You’re taking away considered one of Boston’s high strengths
Boston’s present goalie corps may be seen as a luxurious given the high-end ceiling that each Ullmark and Swayman boast.
However even when shifting considered one of Ullmark or Swayman frees up cap house or nets you a strong return, it’s nonetheless a high-leverage roster reshuffle that presents loads of danger.
Past the chemistry and hugs shared between Ullmark and Swayman, their efficient rotation in internet fashioned the spine of a Bruins protection that recurrently gave groups little to work with in their very own zone.
Sure, maybe Ullmark isn’t a Vezina Trophy contender as soon as once more in 2023-24. However even a regression from Ullmark nonetheless leaves you with … a really, excellent goalie.
As Boston prepares itself for the eventual post-Bergeron period, it has loads to work with by way of the framework of its roster.
They nonetheless have a 60-goal scorer in David Pastrnak to construct round up entrance. A protection that includes each Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm providing a rock-solid basis.
And a goalie corps that includes each Ullmark and Swayman collectively offers Boston arguably the perfect 1-2 punch in the complete league, even when factoring within the variance that comes with the place.
Boston has different areas of the roster to handle, little question. Cash must be moved. However the Bruins may be robbing Peter to pay Paul by transport out considered one of Ullmark or Swayman.
PRO: The Bruins could not want an Ullmark-Swayman tandem to nonetheless contend
Let’s get one factor straight right here. The 2022-23 Bruins don’t win 65 video games within the common season with out their dynamic duo of Ullmark and Swayman.
Had Jim Montgomery and the Bruins opted to maintain that rotation going within the playoffs, we is probably not even penning these offseason musings. No less than not in the midst of Could.
However does Boston essentially want two top-10 goalies in 2023-24, particularly with Swayman due a pay elevate this summer season?
Though Swayman doen’t have as a lot leverage this summer season as an RFA, he’s nonetheless due a pleasant bump in pay from the $925,000 annual cap hit he earned over the previous three seasons.
If each Swayman and Boston go for a bridge deal, comparable contracts embrace Dallas’ Jake Oettinger (three years, $4 million cap hit) and Florida’s Spencer Knight (three years, $4.5 million cap hit).
An analogous contract for Swayman means Boston is probably going allocating no less than $9 million to their goalies in 2023-24 and past if each stay on the roster.
And once you look across the league on the different groups nonetheless within the hunt for a Stanley Cup, it’s not such as you’re observing a gauntlet of elite expertise.
Though Sergei Bobrovsky has turned his recreation round within the postseason, he’s been removed from the participant that captured two Vezina Trophies with the Blue Jackets. And playoff heroics apart, the Panthers can’t be too thrilled that he’s logging a $10 million cap hit per 12 months via the 2025-26 season.
Bruce Cassidy and the Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket to the Western Convention Remaining with a dynamic goalie grouping of … Laurent Brossoit and Adin Hill.
The Hurricanes have rolled out three goalies to date this postseason in Frederik Andersen, Antti Raanta, and Pyotr Kochetkov.
Dallas might need the lone “franchise” goalie for the current and future in Oettinger.
Boston might need the perfect duo in the complete league. However as this postseason proves, generally all you want is a man or two who can merely get the job achieved … slightly than spend closely to retain area two Vezina-level skills.
It’s a bet that would decide simply how viable Boston’s rivalry odds are in 2023 and past.
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Originally posted 2023-05-19 03:52:52.