The Boston Bruins are on the verge of securing a spot in the NHL playoffs according to MoneyPuck, with a 100% chance of making it in the coming days. However, the question of who will be the starting goaltender for the team when the postseason begins on April 22 remains uncertain.
Throughout the season, the Bruins have utilized a goaltending rotation involving Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Ullmark started the first game back in October, followed by Swayman three days later. The rotation continued until Swayman recently started consecutive games for the first time in more than a month, handling the 16th and 17th matchups for the Bruins.
Recent remarks from head coach Jim Montgomery suggest a potential shift in the goaltending strategy as the playoffs approach. Montgomery expressed the possibility of allowing one goaltender to play three games in a row, alternating with the other goaltender to prepare them for the demands of playoff hockey.
Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney is aiming to put an end to the two-goaltender rotation for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The decision on who will secure the starting position during the playoffs will be a challenging one for coach Montgomery.
As of Wednesday, March 20, Swayman has an impressive 22-7 record with eight games extending to overtime. He has maintained a .917 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average. On the other hand, Ullmark, part of the goaltending rotation, holds a 19-7 record (including seven OT games) with a .913 SV% and a 2.64 GAA.
Linus Ullmark on reports about using his no-trade clause: “I’m just very happy to be here.” pic.twitter.com/8zR8ho2NN6
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) March 9, 2024
Bruins GM Don Sweeney explored the possibility of trading Ullmark before the trade deadline on March 8, indicating that Boston was considering various options. However, it remains unclear whether no suitable trade was found or if Ullmark invoked his no-trade clause, a detail neither confirmed nor denied by Sweeney or anyone else.
The current situation potentially positions Swayman as the frontrunner to start in goal during the playoffs, yet nothing is certain at this point with just a month remaining in the regular season.
Sweeney referenced the performances of Adin Hill from the Vegas Golden Knights (who had 15 consecutive starts) during last year’s championship run and Sergei Bobrovsky’s run with the Florida Panthers (with 18 starts) as examples that the Bruins could emulate this postseason.
Reflecting on the past, Sweeney highlighted how Adin Hill and Bobrovsky were pivotal in their teams’ playoff success without facing a goaltender rotation. Notably, the Bruins were eliminated by Bobrovsky’s Panthers in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Next summer, the Bruins will face a notable challenge with their goaltending situation, having two goalies to manage.
A key storyline to monitor during the upcoming playoffs for Boston will be the decision-making process regarding their goaltender duo.
Swayman secured a one-year, 6.5 million and $7 million annually for a term exceeding five seasons.
As per Shinzawa, “Swayman is unlikely to agree to a hometown discount,” based on his arbitration experience from the previous year. Swayman did not seem pleased with the arbitration process he underwent last summer.
Jeremy Swayman on arbitration: "There's no ill will on the process… I'm a Boston Bruin at the end of the day" pic.twitter.com/OI9OpNDKT5
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 8, 2023
Ullmark, as previously discussed, was a subject of trade speculation leading up to the March deadline. If he had not vetoed a trade to the Los Angeles Kings, he might have been playing for them now on the West Coast, as per reports.
It is likely that Boston will aim to trade Ullmark next summer, assuming they can secure a contract extension with Swayman to position him as the starting goalie for the 2025 season. However, Ullmark still holds a no-trade clause in his contract, allowing him to block any undesirable moves.
Potential buyers in the market could include the Ottawa Senators, the Chicago Blackhawks, and possibly the New Jersey Devils. Nonetheless, none of these teams are guaranteed to pursue Ullmark, let alone present an offer that would entice the Bruins into trading their goaltender.
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