BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 23: General manager Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins prepares for the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at Warrior Ice Arena on July 23, 2021 in Brighton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Penhollow/NHLI via Getty Images)
Whether you’re listening to podcasts, viewing NHL Insider reports, perusing online or “gasp,” reading a newspaper, Linus Ullmark chatter is everywhere.
And it’s getting tough to disseminate what’s fact from fiction.
Is Ottawa Senators General Manager Steve Staios knee-deep in talks with Boston GM Don Sweeney regarding the Bruins netminder?
If so, have the discussions gone as far as the Senators amid contract negotiations with Ullmark’s agent, Joakim Persson?
What is the Senators’ plan with their current goaltending tandem of Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg?
What piece or pieces are involved?
What we do know is that the Senators are open for business. It’s no secret that Staios and his operations staff are seeking to shore up several areas during this offseason, with the focus on adding a goalie, veteran leadership, forward depth, and a right-shot defenseman.
After seven seasons of missing the playoffs, Senators fans are studying Staios’ every move.
The GM has yet to make a trade to aid the parent Senators to date. However, with the assistance of AGM, Ryan Bowness pulled off a pair of trades, which helped the club’s American League affiliate Belleville earn an opening-round postseason series win.
Forward Wyatt Bongiovanni, acquired from the Winnipeg Jets, was solid for Belleville down the stretch and into the playoffs. Bongiovanni registered eight goals and two assists in his 14 games as a BSen, adding four more points (one goal, three assists) in seven playoff matches.
But back to the topic at hand: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Multiple reports over the past few weeks have had the Senators asking about the availability of several goalies, including Ullmark.
Staios and Senior Vice-President of Hockey Operations Dave Poulin have both stated that they need to see improvement in what is ultimately any team’s most important position.
At a recent Senators season ticket holder function, Poulin noted that even goaltender Anton Forsberg wasn’t satisfied with the club’s duo.
The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner is definitely a target the Senators covet. It’s been suggested that not only are the Senators making a push, but reportedly Detroit and, per Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch Sunday, Vegas.
Armed with a 14-team no-trade list, Ullmark holds plenty of cards as he heads into the final year of his contract, which carries a $5 million cap hit. Turning 31 on July 31, Ullmark’s actual salary for the 2024-25 campaign is $4.5M, which includes a $1M bonus payable July 1.
Another reason the Bruins should act sooner rather than later is that they do not want to pay a bonus to a player who will likely be moved.
Insiders state Ottawa is on Ullmark’s no-trade list, and he may be willing to waive it to facilitate a swap with the Senators. However, if the Golden Knights or the Red Wings are not on his list, he can be dealt with without consultation.
