Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 10, 2024
The trade deadline has passed but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill. Check out the latest on the Bruins’ Linus Ullmark and Jake DeBrusk plus a look at the Senators’ offseason plans in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
ULLMARK AND DEBRUSK FACE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE WITH THE BRUINS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported a deal was in place before the trade deadline that would’ve sent Linus Ullmark to a team on his 16-team no-trade list. The Boston Bruins goaltender declined to waive the clause as is his right.
It’s rumored that Ullmark rejected a trade to the Los Angeles Kings. Neither Ullmark nor Bruins general manager Don Sweeney would confirm or deny it.
Friedman also said the Bruins had conversations with teams that weren’t on Ullmark’s no-trade list. He said it was an emotionally difficult week for the 30-year-old goalie, who loves living and playing in Boston and doesn’t want to leave.
Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).
Ullmark has one more season remaining on his contract with a $5 million cap hit. Friedman believes Sweeney could revisit efforts to move the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner during the summer.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy noted that Ullmark was relieved and grateful to remain with the Bruins. He also pointed out that this situation hasn’t affected his play. Murphy believes trading the popular Ullmark at the deadline would’ve hurt the roster down the stretch.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy reported Friday that a source told him the rumored trade was not with the Kings. He also cited a source claiming 14 of the 16 clubs on Ullmark’s no-trade list were Western Conference teams.
The Bruins have a projected $22.4 million in cap space for next season. Moving Ullmark’s $5 million cap will provide more room to bolster his roster’s depth.
Sweeney could gauge the market for Ullmark this summer, but the goalie’s no-trade clause will remain an obstacle. It drops by one team to a 15-team NTC for 2024-25.
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes it’s time for Jake DeBrusk to maximize his worth with a strong postseason performance. Sweeney is expected to continue contract talks with the 27-year-old winger’s agent. However, Shinzawa anticipates that DeBrusk will test the free-agent market on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk is in the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4 million. A strong performance in this year’s playoffs could land him a lucrative long-term deal. Time will tell if it’ll be with the Bruins or another club.
In the past, I assumed that DeBrusk would be traded. Both times, the Bruins held onto him. This time, however, his pending UFA status makes it feel like this season will be his last in Boston.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE SENATORS?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators general manager Steve Staios attempted to wheel and deal at the trade deadline. His only significant move was trading winger Vladimir Tarasenko to the Florida Panthers.
However, Staios believes his discussions with other general managers could lay the groundwork for some offseason transactions to bring him some help for his roster.
There was some interest in Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker but no one was willing to pay Staios’ asking price. Most of the Senators’ core players, including Thomas Chabot, Drake Batherson, Jakob Chychrun and Claude Giroux, aren’t going anywhere soon. However, Garrioch believes Staios should be willing to listen to offers.
It’s believed Staios had serious discussions with several teams about moves that could’ve addressed the Senators’ needs. He’s seeking a pair of veteran players to help lead the club’s young core.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes are coming to the Senators following another disappointing season. This club has been spinning its wheels for the last three years.
They risk wasting the best years of those core players and untouchables such as Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson. Another lackluster season could push those players’ patience to the breaking point.
Staios will be active in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets. He’ll try to bring in the veteran leadership he believes this club needs to become a playoff contender. It could come at the cost of a core player not named Tkachuk, Stutzle and Sanderson.
It was a pretty uneventful deadline. Outside of a few players, it really wasn’t set up to be a great deadline. Imo, 2-3 players were on the board that could make a difference. But honestly, I like the discipline/ restraint from the GMs this year!
The rumored asking price for some players was beyond ridiculous. I’m glad GMs didn’t budge!
I think in most cases, the price was underwhelming for once.
There is no more overrated day in the NHL than trade deadline day. It gets hyped to death and so many are left feeling let down when the rumored big moves don’t happen.
If it were up to me I would move the trade Deadline to right near the All-Star break. Trades this late in the season tend to risk disrupting whatever team chemistry you have built up and 20 games really isn’t enough time to work new players into your lineup.
This season was such a. Disappointment. I had such hope.
My take always. The so called injury prone status of Jacob Chychrun is as I argued over blown as people do not understand what a recurring injury is. Guys played healthy all year. He also played better in Ottawa than Arizona so the ask to move him should be high.
Stutzle is pushed around way to easily. He needs to put on weight and muscle to contend as an elite centre in this league.
The goal tending was never anything grand. Though it may be what we have for now.
Ottawa needs those vets mentioned.
They need a RHD
They need to remain cap flexible as nothing is garaunteed that will be invaluable next season as further adjustment will likely be required.
It’s time to make a tough decision and move out guys for grit and leadership. To balance out the over all roster.
“The so called injury prone status of Jacob Chychrun is as I argued over blown as people do not understand what a recurring injury is. Guys played healthy all year.”
You’re right, he has played healthy all year.
And this is the FIRST year in his EIGHT-year career that he’s done so. The shortened 20-21 season is the ONLY full season he’s played. In eight years.
In his first three years he missed an entire season worth of games (14, 32 and 29 games missed). And in the two years previous to this year he missed nearly a full season (34 an 35 games).
But yes, tell me how the guy who has an eight year career and has missed TWO ENTIRE SEASONS due to injury ISN’T injury prone.
“Stutzle is pushed around way to easily. He needs to put on weight and muscle to contend as an elite centre in this league.”
Stutzle needs to stop diving.
Like pitching in baseball,you can never have enough goaltending in hockey! That being said Bostonhas a very interesting problem ahead of them! Which goalie do you keep,and do you look at looking to trade both of them and take the best deal! Ullmark 30 yrs old ,1 more year at 5 million or Swayman 25 yrs old RFA ,potential cost 8/7 million! I meant keep one and get the best deal for the other?
If Swayman want 8 million. Time to say bye bye and lock up Ullmark I do not believe Swayman will even get 7 from bruins Time will tell
This years playoff performance should sort that out! Pressure to out perform your partner is a good thing!
RE; Swayman
He is still very young at 25 years old and has now played a few more games than Ullmark, both have very good numbers both are starters
now is a good time to trade Ullmark, if they can Sign Swayman before A trade, But if boston keep playing with him on short term deals
He will be a UFA in july 2025 hwe will Walk….❗️
These 4 teams Sen’s, NJD, Kings, Wings They All Need starters……❓
Swayman #
G 36, GA,2.45 SV% 0.922
Ullmark #
G 32. GA 2.72 SV% 0.913
I think the NHL Draft will be very busy this year with Trades,
Avalable Tenders at draft time
Ullmark, Saros, and maybe Markstrom…
Was in Palm Springs last week, Trade deadline coverage on TV was poor…
Ww
Why would you think Swayman will walk from bruins? I do not see it even if he has to take a 1yr deal next season
I thought this deadline was very active. Maybe not on the day but certainly during the week
Sanderson Stutzle and Tkachuk are under lock and key. They can reach the breaking point all they want. There not going anywhere
Sens need an upgrade on their forth and development of a good third line. Most winning teams have that third that can win face offs pressure forecheck bang a little and chip in with secondary scoring all being on the plus side. A prototypical Coleman Goodrow and Gourde. A big reason why Tampa won their cups
Was trading Tarasenko a “significant move”? I guess it was significantly underwhelming.
No it was always assumed Tarasenko would be one and done. He has always been reluctant to sign in a Canadian market. Likely due to taxes. But who knows. He nixed a trade to Winnipeg the previous summer.
It seemed like with Debrincat. Dorion was hoping if he signed them they and got them in the door that they like it in Ottawa and stick around.
Garrioch reports There was some interest in Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker but no one was willing to pay Staios’ asking price……..the transport cost to Belleville?
The guy was waived this year with no takers and not because of his $800,000 contract
I wonder if it was a ullmark for pld type of deal?
That was the wild fever dream of Kings fans. No one is talking the PLD problem away from them anytime soon.
Just me spit balling at the rosters and past news items, but I could see Ullmark and a fringe player or “B” prospect (e.g. Lauko, or Merkulov, or Regula, or Walsh) for Kempe and Englund. If memory serve me right, I had thought I had heard Kempe’s name being mentioned in trade rumors earlier in the year, and his goal production is down, but is still a valuable commodity. Englund is a third line d-man but answers Neely’s request for more toughness on D. Speaking of Regula, I wish the Bruins would give him an honest shot at the big leagues. The diminutive Mitchell also plays right D and Montgomery keeps giving him call ups when there is a need. The 6’4″ Regula meanwhile, is posting really impressive numbers in the AHL like a +/- of 34 (that must be close to leading the AHL). Anyway, I could see the Kings fans saying they would be giving up too much, and the Bruins fans saying they are not getting enough, but giving the circumstances and team needs, I could envision this possibility (Ullmark + for Kempe and Englund)..
If Sweeney gets Swayman signed, Ullmark will be traded in the off season.
The bruins have Brandon Bussi in the Ahl who they are very high on. Bussi will require waivers next season. Boston won’t be losing Bussi to waivers.
Lot of rumors out there especially on You Tube .. a name that pops up for the Kings who would’ve been part of the Ullmark deal and there had to be another player involved for the Bruins beside the goalie to make it fit was Pierre-Luc Dubois … Kings aren’t happy with him and his 8.5 million per with his 14 goals and 14 assist this season… who knows if it’s true
The Kings may not be happy with PLD, but the Bruins are not willing (or able) to take that contract on. Just look at how intent Sweeney is at managing his cap dollars. He let Bertuzzi walk after investing so much to get him, due to contract demands. Contractually, Kempe and Ulmark are much closer. PLD’s contract just doesn’t fit with the Bruins salary structure, and the Kings are not going to eat $2 million or so per year for the remainder of PLD’s contract to make it work for the Bruins.
As much of an anigma that PLD has become I can see why bruins may have trade Idea of Ullmark. Etc for him with maybe a bit retained
Enigma!
No way Boston was interested in PLD when Lindholm is available for nothing as a free agent this summer.
There is no way any team, let alone the Bruins, are taking the PLD cancer off Rob Blake’s hands.
That trade was a serious mistake and then Blake doubled down on that mistake by giving him an overpriced 8 year contract.
LA is going to have to live with that one for a while.!
I wonder who will overpay for DeBrusk. He’s making $4M now. Gotta say anything more than $5M feels like an overpay. At best he’s a streaky 2nd line winger. More often than not he is a 3rd liner who disappears for games at a time.
Frederic making 2.5 and Geekie making 2 are as effective as Debrusk!
I think both goalies know…and fans know that Boston’s goaltending situation works because they’re BOTH there. Anyone wondering if that’s true should look at the genuineness of the hugs after every game. This works as a pair. Figure it out Boston. I wouldn’t move either of them.
Dark G I agree and ideally you wouldn’t need or want to trade away one of them…but with a hard cap, you just can’t have two goalies making stater salaries in a cap world. That’s just too much cap space sitting on the bench when either isn’t playing. Just another failure when it comes to this cap.