Elliotte Friedman reveals the Bruins' reasoning behind trading Linus Ullmark before free agency

The Bruins' plan was to make Jeremy Swayman their primary goaltender, but with him still unsigned, the trade has placed added pressure on negotiations. One fan raised the point that, "by trading Ullmark, the Bruins handed Swayman more leverage in contract talks". They now face a tough situation: either meet Swayman's demands or rely on a less proven goaltending tandem of Jonas Korpisalo and Brandon Bussi.

Korpisalo had a difficult season last year, posting some of the worst numbers of his career while playing for the Senators. Bruins fans may have expected their team to be contenders in the Atlantic division this season, but with the current goaltending uncertainty, their chances might be in jeopardy.

Swayman, on the other hand, has proven his worth in the last two seasons, maintaining a 2.53 GAA and a .916 save percentage. Though his 25-10-8 record last year was somewhat underwhelming, his solid performance in net should have placed the Bruins in a better position.

If the Bruins cannot finalize a deal with Swayman soon, their goaltending depth will be a major concern heading into the season.

The decision to move Ullmark may come back to haunt them, especially if Korpisalo struggles or if Bussi proves unprepared for NHL action. All eyes will be on how quickly the Bruins resolve their goaltending crisis and whether their move to trade Ullmark will be seen as a misstep in hindsight.

Source: BladeofSteel
Insider reveals why the Bruins decided to trade Linus Ullmark before July 1st}»