Despite the deadline coming and going on Friday, the potential Linus Ullmark trade saga is far from over.
The Boston Bruins goaltender had his name pop up in rumours ahead of Friday's trade deadline, with the team reportedly shopping him to get upgrades in other spots. Though he wasn't dealt, the possibility of him being moved in the summer remains a hot talking point, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
"I think this is something that is going to pick up again after the season," Friedman said during his weekly "Saturday Headlines" segment on Hockey Night in Canada. "Right now, the Bruins obviously couldn't get anything done and were in a situation where we'll see where this goes after the season is over."
As it stands, Ullmark has a 16-team no-trade clause, meaning that he can stop any deal with half the teams in the NHL.
According to Friedman, there was a deal in place to send Ullmark to a team that was on his no-trade list. However, the Swedish netminder did not waive the no-trade clause to finalize the deal. It's been heavily rumoured that the Los Angeles Kings were the team interested in his services, although Friedman said that was not confirmed by either Ullmark or GM Don Sweeney.
Friedman added that the Bruins reportedly had conversations with teams that aren't on his no-trade list and therefore can't be blocked should he be dealt.
"Obviously, those teams did not occur, but I think in a couple of cases, they were punted into the off-season," he said.
The Bruins have perhaps the best 1-2 punch between the pipes with No. 1 option Jeremy Swayman carrying the second-best save percentage in the NHL (.922) and the fifth-best goals against average (2.45), relegating the reigning Vezina Trophy winner Ullmark to No. 2 on the depth chart.
The 30-year-old Swede started on Saturday, backstopping the Bruins to a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He and Swayman partook in their usual post-game hug following the victory.
"This week was very emotional, it was a very hard week for him," Friedman said. "He did not want to leave Boston, he wanted to stay with the Bruins."
Ullmark is on the books for $5 million this season and has one year left in his four-year, $20-million contract. He has a 16-7-7 record this season and is carrying a 2.77 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
Boston has a 38-13-15 record, good for second in the Atlantic and second overall in the NHL.
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