Linus Ullmark signs 4 year, 33 million dollar contract extension with the Ottawa Senators
This past Wednesday, former Buffalo Saber and, more notably, Boston Bruin Linus Ullmark signed a four-year, 33-million-dollar contract valued at 8.25 times the annual average.
Ullmark came off a career with Bruins last year posting a 2.57 GAA and .915 save percentage winning 22 games. The year before (2022-2023) Ullmark was awarded the Vezina trophy where in that year he posted a 1.38 GAA and a .938 winning a whopping 40 games in the process. Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman posted unreal numbers for Boston leading the league for fewest goals allowed in the 2022-2023 season.
With the Bruins not able to pay both big names and having to choose to keep one due to the salary cap and both expecting big paydays, they traded Ullmark to the Senators for a first round pick and goaltender Jonas Korpisalo. Ullmark told NHL.com this regarding the trade βIt's always something that I've dreamt about, being a clear No. 1 and stuff like that and playing a lot of games,β Ullmark said. βI showed my skill level, obviously, a couple years ago and throughout my career as well. I feel like I've become better and better every single year. And obviously sometimes you're going to have a heck of a year, and then sometimes you're going to just have a good year or a great year, and I'm hoping for this season to come that it's going to be a great one."
Jeremy Swayman gave his opinion on the contract according to NESN.com saying, "Itβs incredible. Itβs a goalie unionβ¦We all know how hard it is to win games in this league and to see guys get rewarded that way, itβs just awesome to see.β
Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk also sounded off saying
"Definitely a good dayβ¦I think it's, of course, well deserved for the career that he's had so far. I think he's just kind of created that spark for our team, so I'm really excited for him and his family.β
"His calm demeanor is the thing that stands out the most and what he's kind of learned from past teams, the leadership of those previous teams, and he's already brought it not just on the ice but off the ice as well.
Can Swayman return the Ottawa Senators back into form with his Vezina caliber he showed back in Boston?