According to hockey columnist Bruce Garrioch, the Ottawa Senators will likely explore a Linus Ullmark trade before late June's NHL Draft. Garrioch mentioned the Sens' unsuccessful attempt to acquire Ullmark from the Boston Bruins before the 2023-24 trade deadline. The longtime Ottawa beat writer also stated the obvious financial constraints the Senators face this offseason.
"[It] won't be easy for the club to upgrade its troubled goaltending position, but Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, is studying his options."Bruce Garrioch via Ottawa Citizen
Indeed, the Senators currently project $13.97M in cap space (21st in the NHL) this offseason. Making matters worse is that current netminders Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg account for a combined $6.75M of Ottawa’s 2024-25 cap space. Staios must get creative if he is serious about acquiring Ullmark, as the financial constraints pose a significant challenge in upgrading the team's goaltending position. Nevertheless, the potential acquisition of Ullmark could significantly bolster the team's goaltending, offering a glimmer of hope for the upcoming season.
One option for the Senators is to explore a trade with the Bruins, including sending Korpisalo or Forsberg to Boston in a package of prospects. Forsberg seems the more likely option, given his lower cap hit on a contract that expires after next season. Also, Forsberg arguably outplayed Korpisalo this season, albeit the 31-year-old backup started 21 fewer games.
Ullmark started 39 games for the Bruins this season, including 22 wins, a .915 save percentage (SV%), and a 2.57 goals against average (GAA). Most Senators fans would sign up for such production in a heartbeat. As for Boston, they found a better option between the pipes in Jeremy Swayman. Swayman started 49 games and accumulated 25 wins, a .916 SV%, and a 2.53 GAA.
Boston has publicly stated that signing Swayman to a long-term deal is their top offseason priority. Thus, the Bruins are eager to move on from Ullmark and free up some cap space in the process.
Here's to hoping Staios and company can capitalize on the Swayman situation and avoid a dramatic move that includes sending Jakob Chychrun to Boston. I think Chychrun will be on the move this Summer, but it must be to a destination out west.