Top NHL insider reveals why the Linus Ullmark trade return was so low

This year, many trades happened before the opening of free agency on July 1st. Among them, the Boston Bruins decided to make a big move by trading away the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in return for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic and a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

After Jeremy Swayman's convincing performances during the 2024 playoffs, management determined that they would place their trust onto him instead of Ullmark.

A new report from Elliotte Friedman confirmed why they decided to trade him before July 1st and why the return was so low.

According to him, Ullmark could've changed his no-trade list on July 1st, which could've complicated the deal with Ottawa.

Even if some would argue that the Bruins got a fair return for Ullmark, considering that he only had one year left on his contract at $5M AAV, it is believed the Bruins could have gotten a bit more for the star goalie, especially if they had wait until the trade deadline, when prices get higher than ever.

Now, the Bruins are still in a tough spot as they need to reach a deal with Swayman as soon as possible. If if doesn't happen, the restricted free agent could miss the start of the training camp, or even the start of the season.

Source: Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts