Linus Ullmark was rumoured to have vetoed a trade at the deadline. However, could the Kings make a play on him this offseason?
At the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, there were reports that Boston Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark had vetoed a trade to a Western Conference team.
The Western Conference team was searching for a starting goalie and felt Ullmark was the right option. However, he thought that staying with the Bruins was the right choice, and because his contract has a 15-team no-trade clause, he could reject it.
While no one truly knows if that team was the Kings, many felt that it made sense that it was. If so, they now have more time to discuss the role and fit with the player and potentially encourage him to accept the trade.
The Kings desperately need a goalie who can make big saves when their season is on the line, and Ullmark can be that goalie for them.
The question is, who does the Kings give up? The most logical option would be Pierre-Luc Dubois.
For the Kings, he just hasn't fit on their roster. If the Kings want to trade him, they need to ensure he is on board since he has trade protection that can control his destiny. Parting ways with Dubois may be the best option to get Ullmark from Boston since it addresses the needs of both teams.
As for the Bruins, the fit is there on their top line. They don't have a true number-one centerman, and Dubois can take on that role. He could help center a new "perfection line" with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.