The top goaltender combo in the NHL was split up by the Boston Bruins when they dealt Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators.
On Monday, Ullmark, 30, was traded to the Senators in exchange for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, forward Mark Kastelic, and a first-round (No. 25) draft pick in 2024. The city of Ottawa will keep 25% of Korpisalo’s pay.
This contract has one more year left on it, with a $5 million salary cap charge for Ullmark. A partial no-trade provision applies to him.
The core of the Bruins’ excellent team defence was their goalie duo of Jeremy Swayman and Ullmark, which they were fortunate to have. When Ullmark was named the league’s best goalie, he earned the Vezina Trophy, and the two shared the Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed in 2022–2023 season.
Swayman did, however, play in a few more regular season games and most of the starts during Boston’s postseason run, which ended in the second round, in 2023–2024. Swayman, a 25-year-old restricted free agent, is anticipated to sign a lucrative, long-term contract with the Boston Bruins. From a financial perspective, trading Ullmark and his contract made sense given the team’s other requirements.
In a statement posted on social media, Boston general manager Don Sweeney thanked Ullmark for his “contributions” to the club, calling him “a star on and off the ice.” Ullmark was 22-10-7 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average this season. Korpisalo, 30, has four years left on a five-year contract he signed as a free agent last summer with the Senators. The salary retention means the Bruins acquire him at a $3 million cap hit. Korpisalo, who also has a limited no-trade clause, was a major disappointment for the Senators this season with a .890 save percentage and a 3.27 goals-against average in 55 games.
They cut that deal and signed goalie Anton Forsberg, 31, through the following season, to form a new partnership with one of the best netminders in the NHL.
During the 2023–24 season, Kastelic, 25, played in 63 games and finished with five goals and five assists for a total of 10 points. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, this 6-foot-4 centre was third on the Senators in penalty minutes (63) this season. He’ll be starting his fourth season in the NHL.
Leave a Reply