Ullmark Makes the Ottawa Senators a Playoff Contender, But the Bruins Should Be Content
Linus Ullmark Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
The Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins surprised the hockey world Monday with the trade of goaltender Linus Ullmark for center Mark Kastelic, goalie Joonas Korpisalo and the 25th-overall pick in this week's NHL draft.
The Bruins did not worry about dealing Ullmark within the Atlantic Division, and for good reason – the package they got from Ottawa was as good as it would get for Ullmark’s services.
Now that the deal is done, you have to be happy if you’re a Senators fan. After a disappointing season, the main area of concern was the team’s netminding, and that issue has now been addressed as well as it could be.
The 30-year-old Ullmark posted a 2.57 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 40 appearances this past season. Although he’s benefitted from playing behind Boston’s strong two-way game, Ullmark is now the starting goalie for a Sens squad that will be happy with nothing less than a post-season berth next season.
From this writer’s perspective, Ullmark was the final piece of the puzzle in that regard. While the Senators may not be done altering their roster, Ottawa absolutely should be a playoff team with Ullmark on board.
Granted, it won't be easy for the Senators to secure a post-season berth in the Atlantic, but GM Steve Staios deserves credit for striking early in the off-season and bringing in arguably the best goalie available.
Ullmark’s modified no-trade clause made a deal tougher to pull off, but Staios surrendered three assets – and 75 percent of Korpisalo’s bloated contract, which runs for four more seasons – to get the transaction done.
The bar is being set high for the Senators, but that’s as it should be. Sitting back and allowing this team to wallow near the bottom of the division next season is not an option. New Senators coach Travis Green now has a solid goaltending tandem, including Anton Forsberg, to give the team a chance to win more often than not. Ullmark also doesn’t have to be a workhorse to be effective.
Meanwhile, the Bruins get a first-rounder they may choose to trade in another deal, but they couldn’t miss out on an opportunity to make the most of their goaltending depth and convert Ullmark into help over the long haul.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney can still rely on starter Jeremy Swayman to do the heavy lifting once they re-sign him, and he has his first-rounder back to help restock Boston’s group of prospects. They might not get a franchise player at the 25th spot, but the Bruins’ aging core could use an infusion of youth, and the Ullmark trade helps them significantly in that respect.
The best NHL trades work for both teams involved, and you can see why this trade makes sense for the Bruins and Senators.
The way things shake out, Ottawa and Boston could be battling for a playoff spot – although we’re of the mind that the Tampa Bay Lightning could drop out of the playoffs next season – but this swap took place because it filled the needs of both teams.
We’ll find out soon enough if Ullmark is the right fit for the Sens, but on paper, at least, he’s exactly what Ottawa needed. The move also keeps Ullmark from landing with another division rival like the Toronto Maple Leafs.
At this time next season, we’ll be in a better position to judge the Ullmark trade. But as it stands, Staios got his man, and Boston began a new era where Swayman will be the clear No. 1 option between the pipes.
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