Linus Ullmark still headed for a trade: 'I don't think this is over.'
It sounds like goaltender Linus Ullmark is on borrowed time in the city of Boston.
By all accounts the Boston Bruins came awfully close to trading veteran goaltender Linus Ullmark at the National Hockey League's trade deadline, with rumors suggesting that the only reason the trade failed to go through was due to Ullmark using his trade protection to block the deal.
Although we may never get the full story of what truly happened behind the scenes leading up to the trade deadline, it sounds very much like it may have only been the beginning.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has just revealed that he believes Ullmark has only managed to delay the inevitable.
"I don't think this is over, I think Ullmark realizes that," said Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
The insider believes that, in spite of the fact that Ullmark remains a Bruin for the time being, that Ullmark appears to be on borrowed time. Friedman revealed his belief that some of the discussions the Bruins held about Ullmark prior to the deadline are likely to bleed over into the summer.
"There's definitely some conversations about Ullmark that happened over the last couple of weeks that I think will be revisited after the season is over," admitted Friedman.
Ullmark's contract comes loaded with a 16 team no-trade list and he will have an opportunity to submit a new list of 16 teams prior to next season. The knowledge that he has gained about potentially being traded leading up to the deadline will no doubt impact which teams Ullmark adds to his list next season, which could further complicate things for the Bruins.
Although the Los Angeles Kings are believed to be the team that Ullmark blocked the trade to, Friedman revealed that the Kings are not the only team that was in the mix for Ullmark.
"I also think there were some teams in the East that Boston was talking to.... and I think there was more than one," said Friedman. "I don't know if they were ones that he could have blocked or not."
It sounds like it may be a busy summer for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney.