The Boston Bruins are very certain to secure a postseason spot in the NHL over the next few days, as MoneyPuck has the team locked as a playoff team, increasing their chances of making it there by 100%.
Who will be the goalie protecting their net when the postseason begins on April 22 is a less certain question.
The Bruins have used a two-goalie rotation that has included both Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark for the whole season. Back in October, the former received the first start of the campaign. Three days later, the latter did the same. The rotation continued until Swayman started two straight games for the first time this season for the 16th and 17th Bruins games of the year, which was more than a month later.
Tuesday, March 19, was the 14th straight game that the Bruins utilised Ullmark and Swayman in a rotational basis, according to Stathead. Jim Montgomery, the head coach, has stated that this will most likely alter before the postseason.
We could eventually want to watch a player play three straight games. According to Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic, Montgomery recently spoke with goaltending coach Bob Essensa about it.”To absorb the demands of playing, let a guy go on a run and let the other guy go on a run.”
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney wants to halt the two-goaltender rotation.
Coach Montgomery will have to make a difficult choice on who will start when the playoffs roll around.
Swayman has a 22-7 record through Wednesday, March 20, with eight games going into overtime. He has a 2.56 goals-against average and a.917 save percentage. On the other end of the rotation, Ullmark has a record of 19-7 (seven overtime games), 2.64 GAA, and a.913 SV%.
Before the March 8 trade deadline, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney assessed the market to sell Ullmark, noting that Boston had “explored different situations.” Either he couldn’t find one with Ullmark sticking behind, or Ullmark carried out his no-trade clause—which Sweeney and others both refused to confirm or deny.
With one month remaining in the regular season, Swayman should be in a prime position to defend the net in the playoffs given the current circumstances, but nothing is assured.
However, Sweeney highlighted the significance Sergei Bobrovsky’s (18) run with the Florida Panthers and goaltender Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights (15 consecutive starts) played in last year’s championship run as models his team may emulate this year.
“Last year, Adam Hill was the Stanley Cup goalie. According to Sweeney, “He didn’t have to deal with a rotation.” “In the playoffs last year, Bobrovsky led that team to the Stanley Cup Final despite not starting the first two games.”
In any case, Bobrovsky’s Panthers defeated the Bruins in the opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Bruins Will Have to Handle 2 Goaltender Situations Next Summer
What Boston decides to do with their goaltending pair going forward will be one of the key narratives to watch in the 2017 playoffs.
Through an arbitration hearing, Swayman agreed to a one-year, $3.475 million contract that would last until the 2024 season. However, he will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, and it is anticipated that he will want an average yearly salary of between $6.5 and $7 million when he signs a contract that extends beyond five seasons.
In light of Shinzawa’s arbitration lawsuit from the previous year, he “will not be prompt to accept a hometown discount.” Swayman didn’t seem very thrilled about going through the procedure the previous summer.
As was previously established, Ullmark participated in trade discussions just prior to the deadline at the beginning of March. If he hadn’t reportedly prevented a deal to the Los Angeles Kings, he would now be playing hockey for the Kings on the West Coast.
Assuming Boston can reach an extension agreement with Swayman to make him the starting goalie for the 2025 season, it’s reasonable to assume Boston will attempt to trade Ullmark next summer. However, Ullmark will still be able to block any potential move he doesn’t like thanks to the no-trade clause in his contract.
The Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, and possibly the New Jersey Devils will be among the teams interested in bidding for Ullmark, but none of those teams is guaranteed to make a bid or present the Bruins with a package that would pique their interest in exchange for their goaltender.
Nevertheless, Montgomery stated that the Bruins are “just building towards the playoffs” at this point in time, sticking with a consistent, alternating cycle of two goaltenders.
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