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Player Discussion Linus Ullmark

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Just my opinion but I don't think we're in the playoff picture at all with two rookie goalies. Vladar has a .906 save percent, on a team that has allowed the least goals in the league. That's awful.

Imagine Swayman hitting one of his down turns, he's played a string of games well but is now struggling (as has happened several times this year). Only, instead of being able to hand the reigns over to Ullmark, sit on the bench for a few games and re-set, he has to go right back in and continue struggling because Vladar is worse. Meanwhile the Bruins have lost 6 in a row, the 3 where Swayman started struggling, then Vladar who sucked, then Swayman who was still fighting his confidence, then Vladar who stunk again... Situations like that are how you destroy young goalies.

Now, could they have found a vet for less than $20m? Probably. There were rumors they tried to deal for Holtby, so it sounds like something they explored. But they were never going to have "$5m to spend on the rest of the roster" if they didn't sign Ullmark. Even Holtby, coming off an .889 garbage season signed for $2m. So maybe they could have had $3m to spend.

The other thing you have to remember is that Sweeney LOVES free agency. He loves getting something for nothing. IMO he thought he could get a really good goalie in here and he structured Ullmark's contract in such a way that if Swayman proves he's the man over this year and next then Ullmark can be traded for assets. At that point he can be traded to half the league without consent and after two cap increases his $5m should be very affordable.
 
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Mr. Make-Believe said:
I didn’t like the “idea” of the vet during the off-season. I didn’t want to sign a guy to be part of the core of the team either. Would have rather spent the money on the rest of the roster.

But there’s one caveat when it came to Ullmark. And it’s that I thought he was one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and that he’d show that marked statistical improvement playing behind a Bruins team that is light years better than where he came from. I thought that between playing for a stronger team and having a young guy like Swayman pushing him from the backup position, it would be the best tandem we saw in Boston since Tuukka was doing the same to Timmy.

Instead, he’s overall been a bottom half of the league goaltender with the lowest percentage of quality starts he’s ever had in his career. Overall, this Bruins tandem has been… okay.

Now were my expectations too high? Perhaps that’s fair to suggest. I don’t think so, but it’s a conversation. But could we have found a veteran goaltender to put up “meh” numbers without committing $20M in the process? Probably! At any rate, it’s not something to be doing victory laps about as we approach the playoffs with holes on defense and forward and $6M dedicated to goaltending that doesn’t sport a confident de facto number one guy.

Again, just to reiterate… I love both of our goalies. I hope the strategy will work and the Bruins kill in the playoffs. But as of today? I don’t see how anyone is convinced that it was the right play.
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Yea to me the jury is still out if it was the right move. At least until we see how the playoffs shake out.

I said in the offseason looking at the eastern conference the Bruins didn't really stack up skaters 1 through 18 against a good number of other teams. They were going to need to gamble and win with a risky move. I know picking up Ullmark was playing it safe but playing it safe isn't going to get them out of the East nevermind a win in the SCF. Actually to be honest with how little Ullmark has played in his career to date you could almost say signing him to that deal was a different kind of risk. I would have went with Suter on his contract + a cheap 3rd pairing guy (either internal or UFA) over Forbot+Reilly. Still would have had money left over for Lindholm if that deal came around again. Too many what ifs to consider but I stated my wants back in the offseason.

It'll be nice to see playoff hockey but if you need a miracle to just get out of the conference I don't see the point in locking mediocrity up for a multi year contract.
 
I feel Bruce should play them both in the playoffs. It’s been a pretty solid 50/50 split all season. I assume it’ll stay that way unless one of em just goes and rips it up
 
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It will be interesting to see what kind of game Ullmark has tomorrow. It seems neither Swayman or Ullmark have played well after playing an awesome game , they tend to regress a little . Cassidy is giving Ullmark a chance to run with it , big game for him tomorrow.
 
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Dennis Bonvie said:
Right, have to be firing on all cylinders to win even in the first round.
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The most successful Bruins postseasons in the last 20 years have always started the same.
An awkward first round where the Bruins have to overcome and pull together to beat the team they on paper should be killing.
Then they come together and go into the second round running on all cylinders.

The first round will be where this team either finds that extra gear and gels,
or they dont.
 
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Who believes he should be the starting goaltender when the playoffs start?
 
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I would start with Linus. If he has issues play Sway. In fact, both would benefit from getting some playoff experience. Unless one gets really hot rotate them.
 
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def ullmark
wouldnt of said that 2 months ago.
swayman is letting in softies now plus his puck handling creates more problems.
 
The National said:
It’s Ullmark’s net game 1 for sure, ride the hot hand if he hits a wall Sway is more than capable of going on a run.
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Honestly neither guy should be spent, as they have come pretty close to a 50\50 split. Ullmark is playing more confidently and closer to his peak than Swayman who has definitely dipped a bit. So Ullmark as earned G1 barring injury\illness.
 
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Loved Ferraro's comment about Ullmark looking like he was posing for hockey cards the Saturday game against the Rangers haha
He's been real steady lately, hasn't seemed to be as lost in the net like he was earlier in the season either.

Should get game 1, but hopefully Bruce rotates goalies in the playoffs similar to how he's been handling it regular season
 
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