Linus Ullmark shares unfiltered thoughts about possible trade to Toronto
Read into that what you will:
Linus Ullmark has heard his name in trade rumours for many weeks now as his future as the Bruins’ goalie remains unsure in Boston. Jeremy Swayman has become the clear-cut starting goalie, who is a pending restricted free agent that will command a significant raise this summer. Which means Ullmark is most likely on his way out, and a few teams have been linked to the netminder, including the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes and at some point the New Jersey Devils, who finally acquired Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
There are also the Maple Leafs, one of the Bruins’ worst playoff rivals, and reports have hinted at the fact that Ullmark might have already blocked a trade or any chatter linking him to Toronto.
The Leafs Nation podcast went straight to the point on Friday and asked the netminder himself about the idea of getting traded to the Maple Leafs. While Ullmark gave the classic: “Never Say Never…” he made it clear that he is not looking to wear the Maple Leafs next season.
Ullmark holds power in any trade offer seeing that his current deal holds a no-trade clause. It wouldn’t be the first time Ullmark uses it to block a trade. Prior to the March deadline, several insiders revealed how the netminder had used his no-trade list to reject a transaction out West.
Maple Leafs and general manager Brad Treliving would love to acquire Ullmark, who put up impressive numbers in 2023-24 with a .915 save percentage in 40 games after winning the Vezina Trophy the year prior, but the netminder is in control. Ullmark believes the Maple Leafs can already count on Joseph Woll to be their starting goalie.
Sure, Ullmark said never say never, but he clearly wants to stay put in Boston and I doubt the Maple Leafs will be the ones to pry him out of there.
