They tried to trade him at the deadline. They already knew Ullmark was never playing for them next year. Vezina winner doesn't mean shit anymore. He was no longer in the future plans of this organization.
Easy to say now. but look back and see what happened from the trade deadline on March 8th until the end of the season.
swayman played 8 of the games
date - SV%
3/11 - .810
3/16 - .828
3/21 - .897
3/26 - .857
3/30 - .900
4/4 - .966
4/9 - .846
4/15 - .958
so based on this his SV% was under .901 for 6 out of his last 8 games going into the post season. you have the Vezina winner sitting there played 9 games down the stretch
date - SV%
3/9 - .974
3/14 - .947
3/19 - .935
3/23 - .897
3/27 - .933
4/2 - 1.00
4/6 - .933
4/13. - .875
4/16 - .895
Ullmarks last 9 games he played 3 games under .901 and 7 over .933
are you giving up on the season last year going into the playoffs and say well Ullmark we are going to try and trade over the summer. screw it this year lets just let Swayman play even though he had been not good down the stretch. you do that you run the risk of killing Swayman's confidence and career by letting him tank down the stretch into the playoffs. then you have no choice but to play Ullmark in the leafs series and beyond.
even though Ullmark was by FAR the better down the stretch they still went with Swayman and used the reason he had a great regular season against the leafs. If that was the truth then they would have started Ullmark against Florida because he had a great regular season against them.
they gave Swayman every chance to grab the stater down the stretch he didn't step up for the opportunity.
The guy at that point played parts of three season and didn't take the starter job. 2020 doesn't count he played 10 games in the bubble which was nothing like a normal NHL season on so many levels.
they are thinking about the future but at the same time always trying to win now which they should. last year win now was not playing Swayman down the stretch to carry the load.