*Photo from Sporting News*
Want trades? There are trades. The Ottawa Senators have acquired goalie Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2024 first round draft pick, forward Mark Kastelic, and goalie Joonas Korpisalo, according to Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. Both teams have confirmed the trade.
Ullmark is entering the last year of a 4 year deal that pays him $5 million annually with a 14 team no trade list, and he will be a UFA at the end of next season. Kastelic is on the last year of a two year deal, and he will be a RFA with arbitration rights at the end of next season. Korpisalo has 4 years remaining on a 5 year deal with the Senators retaining 25 percent of the $4 million annual salary.
Entering last season, Ullmark was looking to keep his success rolling. He did just that, posting a 22-10-7 record with a 2.57 GAA and .915 save percentage, recording two shutouts in 39 starts and 40 games. He went 0-1 in the playoffs in one start and one relief outing.
In 2022-2023, Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie and also won the Jennings Trophy with partner Jeremy Swayman as the NHL's best goalie tandem. He has had great numbers in a Bruins uniform, with a .924 save percentage and 2.28 GAA in 3 seasons.
The acquisition of Ullmark is a necessary one for the Senators as they attempt to shore up their goaltending. The tandem of Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg was one of the worst in the league last season, with Mads Sogaard not doing any better in limited action.
Ottawa GM Steve Staios said of getting Ullmark that "I had a great conversation with him last night, albeit I felt badly because it was one in the morning back in Sweden, but he was certainly up and spry and energetic on our call. We're looking forward to getting Linus in. We feel like not only the caliber of goaltender but the caliber of person that he is fits exactly what we're looking to build from a culture perspective with our Senators. He's just an outstanding man and a family man."
Ullmark is eligible to sign an extension with the Senators starting July 1, but Ullmark is reportedly prepared to play out the year without an extension before hitting the open market. The first round pick the Bruins get is the one they traded for Tyler Bertuzzi at the trade deadline last season.
Korpisalo finished the first year of a 5 year deal with the Senators, totaling $20 million. He ended the season with a 21-26-4 record, recording a 3.27 GAA and .890 save percentage, going without a shutout and recording 22 quality starts in 49 starts and 55 total appearances. The number of starts and appearances are both career highs for Korpisalo.
A former 5th round pick in 2019 by the Senators, Kastelic finished his 3rd season in the NHL. He ended the season with 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points, averaging 7:43 of ice time while posting a -5 rating in 63 games. He has 14 goals and 11 assists across 144 games in his career.
With the Senators, Ullmark will become the clear cut starter with Forsberg set to serve as his backup. Korpisalo will partner with Jeremy Swayman as the goalie tandem in Boston, while Kastelic will be in the mix for bottom 6 minutes with the Bruins.
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