Have the Bruins Made Their Decision in Net? Ullmark Likely Off-Season Trade Candidate

After going back and forth between goalies Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark all season long and even beginning the first round of the playoffs that way, the Boston Bruins have made their decision in net.

Ullmark had the better season in 2022-23, winning the Vezina Trophy, but Swayman was the better goalie this time around, earning slightly more starts. This led to Swayman getting the call in Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which the Bruins won.

Jim Montgomery and company didn't want to mess up the trend that the Bruins had gone with all season and started Ullmark in Game 2, resulting in a loss. From there, Swayman locked it down and has started eight of the past nine games, including back-to-back performances in which he has allowed four or more goals.

After being pulled in the 6-1 stomping by the Florida Panthers in the second game of the second round, the Bruins went right back to Swayman, being dealt another loss. While allowing nine goals in two games isn't ideal for Swayman, the Bruins haven't given their goalie much help the past two games of the series. Four of the goals scored by the Panthers in Game 3 were on the power play, and there were some odd bounces to go along with that.

That back-and-forth starting between goalies rightfully ended after Swayman allowed three goals in the first two games against Toronto, stopping 63 of 66 shots. Ullmark allowed three goals for a loss in his one post-season start. The Bruins' big worry was failing to reach expectations again by not getting out of the first round as the higher seed, but Swayman made sure that didn't become a reality with a first-round save percentage of .950.

While it has worked out for the Bruins to run with Swayman and Ullmark these past few seasons, this was when Swayman didn't cost a lot and was still developing into a starter. We have reached the point where both are very good starters in the NHL, and it's not practical to hold onto both and pay both, while the rest of the roster isn't addressed as it should be.

This isn't to say that running it back with both this season was a bad idea. Previously, Swayman hadn't had a performance like the ones he's been having in the playoffs this season. Now, after starting most games in the regular season (43) over the reigning Vezina winner and starting all but one game in the playoffs to this point, he has reached clear starter numbers and has the favor in Boston.

Ullmark has a $5-million annual cap hit for one more season before he becomes a UFA. The Bruins could have worked with that much money last off-season and not lost a player like Tyler Bertuzzi or have to trade a player like Taylor Hall.

There is a 16-team no-trade list attached to Ullmark's contract that turns to a 14-team no-trade clause for the 2024-25 season. The Bruins can work with this though as enough teams are looking for legitimate help in net, with Boston potentially as the main team that can provide that.

It was even reported that Ullmark vetoed a trade to the Los Angeles Kings before the trade deadline, suggesting that the Bruins are searching for a deal to move forward with Swayman as their starter.

It wasn't smooth getting Swayman signed to a contract for this season as the process took till Aug. 1, 2023, despite being eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2022. With barely enough money to spend, the Bruins settled on a contract for one year at $3.475 million through arbitration. That means he's up for a contract again after taking over the starter role and will be asking for more than Ullmark. Swayman is younger and has proven to be better this season, so he has every right to do so, and it makes sense.

The Bruins surely want to still compete with the roster they have, so it makes little sense to allocate so much money to a tandem when one can do the job just fine. If Swayman can start 43 games, he can start 50-plus.

Despite the relationship between Swayman and Ullmark, the NHL is a business, and winning is the goal. These two haven't won as a tandem, regardless of what has happened in the regular season. It is the area of the team that can be altered to free up cap space without causing a major negative impact since Swayman is very good in net.