Player Discussion Linus Ullmark

[GordonHowe]

He also had a coulpe

I don’t think with the cap issues that they will be able to keep him and Swayman do you?

Ty Anderson
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May 2, 2023
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Ullmark says he can’t give great answer to how badly he was limited by injuries in playoffs. “I had full confidence in my abilities every single game. That’s the honest truth.”



Ty Anderson
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He doesn’t want to disclose his injury.

If you're addressing me, there are at least a few alternatives to trading Linus Ullmark, the 2022-2023 Vezina award winner.

It is likely next season's fourth line will consist largely if not entirely of kids waiting to make the jump from PRO. Savings will accrue from parting ways with more expensive veterans and inserting younger, cheaper players on that line. Nosek and Nick will likely be gone. I don't know about AJ Grear.

If I could, I would keep Taylor Hall, Bertuzzi, Hathaway, and Orlov. Of the latter three, Bertuzzi would be the most important to retain, though I'd like them all back. They are born Bruins.

Though money is not an issue, I do not expect the return of #46, and it is more likely than not that we have seen Patrice play his final game as a Boston Bruin.

If they can do so, trading Connor Clifton should be an option, and perhaps Derek Forbort. If possible, I would keep Matt Gryzleck. Assuming you can do so, the rest of the D corps should be back.

I am not a capologist and have yet to turn my attention to what those who cover the team in depth are saying, or will say, about Sweeney's moves going forward.

To me, talk of jettisoning Linus Ullmark is laughably shortsighted and bad business. He is a very capable goaltender, as we saw throughout the regular season this year.

Everyone concerned should take a deep breath and chill.

Let the smoke clear and then, with common sense and perspicacity, move forward.

I am confident Sweeney can do this, and I am also confident the Boston Bruins will remain a top tier club in the NHL, younger though not necessarily with less depth.

Two cents.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

If you're addressing me, there are at least a few alternatives to trading Linus Ullmark, the 2022-2023 Vezina award winner.

It is likely next season's fourth line will consist largely if not entirely of kids waiting to make the jump from PRO. Savings will accrue from parting ways with more expensive veterans and inserting younger, cheaper players on that line. Nosek and Nick will likely be gone. I don't know about AJ Grear.

If I could, I would keep Taylor Hall, Bertuzzi, Hathaway, and Orlov. Of the latter three, Bertuzzi would be the most important to retain, though I'd like them all back. They are born Bruins.

Though money is not an issue, I do not expect the return of #46, and it is more likely than not that we have seen Patrice play his final game as a Boston Bruin.

If they can do so, trading Connor Clifton should be an option, and perhaps Derek Forbort. If possible, I would keep Matt Gryzleck. Assuming you can do so, the rest of the D corps should be back.

I am not a capologist and have yet to turn my attention to what those who cover the team in depth are saying, or will say, about Sweeney's moves going forward.

To me, talk of jettisoning Linus Ullmark is laughably shortsighted and bad business. He is a very capable goaltender, as we saw throughout the regular season this year.

Everyone concerned should take a deep breath and chill.

Let the smoke clear and then, with common sense and perspicacity, move forward.

I am confident Sweeney can do this, and I am also confident the Boston Bruins will remain a top tier club in the NHL, younger though not necessarily with less depth.

Two cents.

Yeah I”m not really saying they should move him but if Swayman ends up with Let’s say 4 million or close to that not sure if they can afford that much on 2 goalies

 

[Kovi]

"ask goalie bob" may be the new "still evaluating". monty is the coach, he knows why they made the decisions they made.
just explain it or say you won't comment on it. what he said is just passing the buck and tossing the goalie coach (who
i don't think talks to anyone in the media) under the bus.

Gaslighting. All of it. They both need to be gone

 

[UncleRico]

Bruins’ Linus Ullmark was reportedly playing through ‘debilitating’ injury during Stanley Cup Playoffs

Linus Ullmark was reportedly dealing with a severe injury during Boston's crushing first-round exit against the Panthers.

www.boston.com

I find the Ullmark bashing, demands that he be run out of town on a rail, dumped for a bag of pucks, etc. nonsensical and hilarious.

IF you want to blame someone, blame Jim Montgomery and Bob Essensa.

Have you ever known a goaltender, any NHLer, or any professional athlete to decline an opportunity to play, however injured? (Well, MLB comes to mind. Gotta rest that hangnail.)

It is entirely -- entirely -- Montgomery's responsibility, and fault, for inexplicably starting Ullmark in six games over 12 days. Anyone with eyes could see Linus was likely injured, spent, and playing poorly.

Remember, Ullmark now has a total of eight playoff games under his belt. Yes, he played more games than Swayman and against the better clubs. But he also split time with Jeremy.

I understand that in the playoffs, coaches predictably go with the goaltender most responsible for getting them there, the netminder with the hot hand, and as a reward for a successful season. I also understand that, traditionally, coaches select a goaltender to be "the guy" because, for one thing, they prefer not to disrupt the team's rhythm and habits by swapping goaltenders in and out.

So, Ullmark was injured. He has little playoff experience. He was not spelled at any point in the series by Swayman, and again, played six games in twelve nights. He was exhausted, and he was playing poorly.

Does this sound like a recipe for success?

Grave mishandling of the goaltending, bad swaps (Clifton in, Gryz out), second guessing and the baffling, ineffective line changes that resulted from it, playing soft, playing scared -- all of these are ultimately failures of coaching.

I've liked JIm Montgomery in many ways, but he has to take responsibility, and be held accountable for, what can only be described as very bad coaching when it mattered most.

Get off Linus.

1) if he was actually injured

2) he was garbage last year when healthy anyways in the playoffs.

I don’t think paying $5m to a goalie who has played him out of two straight playoff series clinching games as a good use of cap.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

he looked hurt for a while.
like even before the playoffs.
He was just very slow getting up. Im really curious to see what the injury was.
I mean I got worried with him in game 2 when the bennett goal leaked by him, then he let in that shot in from staal. He stops those easily 2 months ago. Even goals 3 and 5 that game he stops. Goal 4 he tried the pad stack, but maybe injury didnt allow him to get over quick like he did during the season, and he would been square to that shot too.

He played pretty well in Games 3 & 4.

With a 3-1 lead in the series, going home, that was the time to go with Swayman, even if Ullmark was completely healthy.

 

[GordonHowe]

1) if he was actually injured

2) he was garbage last year when healthy anyways in the playoffs.

I don’t think paying $5m to a goalie who has played him out of two straight playoff series clinching games as a good use of cap.

Then get another Vezina winning number one.

 

[Dellstrom]

Then get another Vezina winning number one.

If Ullmark goes (unlikely), I’d be willing to bet quite a bit that Swayman is top 5 in Vezina voting.

The gap between them is marginal. Both are elite even considering this series.

 

[GordonHowe]

Yeah I”m not really saying they should move him but if Swayman ends up with Let’s say 4 million or close to that not sure if they can afford that much on 2 goalies

Again, I am no capologists. Consult those here who are.

But Sweeney's managerial genius, if he has any, was on display when signing Ullmark AND Swayman to relatively long term contracts FOR LESS THAN TEN MILLION.

As noted at the time, there are clubs who have 7 or 8 MILLION tied up in ONE goaltender, who have proved, evidently, less than stellar.

However poorly Ullmark played in this series, however awkward & discomforting his goaltending was in his initial season, Linus has improved into a goaltender who can play solid, track the puck, be positionally sound, make many, many fabulous saves, and even steal games. Which, given his initial play, I did not believe possible.

The guy is going to win the Vezina. You can say the regular season doesn't matter, and you would have a point.

Absent injury and "stupefying," mystifying, terrible coaching on the part of Jim Montgomery -- who somehow seemed to lose his nerve come playoff time, why, I don't know, but look at the moves, and the ultimate result -- Ullmark would have been fine.

He may have lost. And if he proved himself unequal to the playoff task, fine.

But that's not what happened.

Look at Montgomery's atrocious -- atrocious --coaching, and tell me you "blame" Linus Ullmark.

f***ing shit.

Over & out,

M.

 

[UncleRico]

Then get another Vezina winning number one.

Certainly isn’t vezina quality in the playoffs

 

[PlayMakers]

Trade him.

Fwiw, that opinion isn't driven by his playoffs. Two or three months ago I said they should trade him in the off-season, while his value is high. It's not as high now after a stinker of a playoff but I still would think the Vezina winner is a tradable asset. At the end of the day, we don't have many of those.

Go with Sway and use the money for Bertuzzi.

 

[Shawnathon]

Trade him.

Fwiw, that opinion isn't driven by his playoffs. Two or three months ago I said they should trade him in the off-season, while his value is high. It's not as high now after a stinker of a playoff but I still would think the Vezina winner is a tradable asset. At the end of the day, we don't have many of those.

Go with Sway. Embrace the youth movement.

Look at the value Fluery brought back after his Vezina. Even if Ullmark is much younger, GM’s are still going to look at the context of the team he was playing behind and not just the numbers. Nobody believes he’s actually as good as his regular season numbers in a short sample size behind a stacked team would indicate.

 

[GordonHowe]

Certainly isn’t vezina quality in the playoffs

Get yourself a new one, genius.

 

[GordonHowe]

Trade him.

Fwiw, that opinion isn't driven by his playoffs. Two or three months ago I said they should trade him in the off-season, while his value is high. It's not as high now after a stinker of a playoff but I still would think the Vezina winner is a tradable asset. At the end of the day, we don't have many of those.

Go with Sway and use the money for Bertuzzi.

I'm surprised at you.

As LBJ would say, "Okay, partner,"

 

[SPLBRUIN]

Having 2 legitimate top starting goalies is a luxury that the Bruins can't afford with their cap issues. Trade Ullmark as his value should still be high despite his 2nd consecutive playoff flop. Swayman is the future and supplement him with a cheap UFA, over the years whoever the Bruins brought in to play with Rask performed well, lots of faith in Essensa to ensure this plan works.

 

[PlayMakers]

Look at the value Fluery brought back after his Vezina. Even if Ullmark is much younger, GM’s are still going to look at the context of the team he was playing behind and not just the numbers. Nobody believes he’s actually as good as his regular season numbers in a short sample size behind a stacked team would indicate.

What you get back isn't really the point. The Bruins need to clear cap space and nobody is trading for Taylor Hall and Derek Forbort. The Bruins are going to have to move someone to clear cap.

But since you brought up returns, if Georgiev can bring back two 3rds and a 5th, I'd think Ullmark could get two 2nds and something. That would go a long way towards restocking the draft cupboard.

 

[UncleRico]

He played pretty well in Games 3 & 4.

With a 3-1 lead in the series, going home, that was the time to go with Swayman, even if Ullmark was completely healthy.

Montgomery should have played the platoon from the start and kept it going just like in the regular season

Ullmark: games 1,3,5,7
Swayman: games 2,4,6

Should have gone with what got you there. The only leeway should have been game 7 depending on who was the hotter goalie.

Honestly there were quite a few better routes to go than the one Montgomery went.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

as bad as ullmark was in games 2 5 and 6.
he probably stops that first and 3rd goal in game 7.

 

[EverettMike]

If Montgomery (or Cassidy before him) deferred the decision to Goalie Bob then that's still them making a decision. If a manager/coach/boss defers his decision to an underling they still own the results, the process, and the success/failure.

The buck stops with the coach.

Unless the GM has given total authority of said decision to Essensa. IF that's the case we have a really big problem on our hands.

Lack of accountability is my least favorite thing. Part of being at the top is taking responsibility for everything that happens under you, on your watch.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and all that jazz.

Been a HUGE problem with this organization for a very, very long time. Really it started in 2012 when they wouldn't shut the f*** up about a "cup hangover," something I have never seen another NHL champ do.

 

[UncleRico]

If Montgomery (or Cassidy before him) deferred the decision to Goalie Bob then that's still them making a decision. If a manager/coach/boss defers his decision to an underling they still own the results, the process, and the success/failure.

The buck stops with the coach.

Unless the GM has given total authority of said decision to Essensa. IF that's the case we have a really big problem on our hands.



Been a HUGE problem with this organization for a very, very long time. Really it started in 2012 when they wouldn't shut the f*** up about a "cup hangover," something I have never seen another NHL champ do.

I look at it as Montgomery diverting blame. Montgomery had no issue making the decision to keep Ullmark in when he " liked the look in ullmarks eyes" but when they lose game 7 and he has to answer questions about the goalie situation he deflects to the goalie coach.

I didnt think of the scenario where maybe the GM stepped in, but its kind of ugly no matter which direction you look.

 

[EverettMike]

I look at it as Montgomery diverting blame. Montgomery had no issue making the decision to keep Ullmark in when he " liked the look in ullmarks eyes" but when they lose game 7 and he has to answer questions about the goalie situation he deflects to the goalie coach.

I didnt think of the scenario where maybe the GM stepped in, but its kind of ugly no matter which direction you look.

It's really awful in every way, yup.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

as bad as ullmark was in games 2 5 and 6.
he probably stops that first and 3rd goal in game 7.

How does he probably stop the McAvoy tip-in?

 

[DarrenBanks56]

How does he probably stop the McAvoy tip-in?

i think he wouldve been over there quicker than swayman.
swayman wasnt square on that one

 

[NDiesel]

If Montgomery (or Cassidy before him) deferred the decision to Goalie Bob then that's still them making a decision. If a manager/coach/boss defers his decision to an underling they still own the results, the process, and the success/failure.

The buck stops with the coach.

Unless the GM has given total authority of said decision to Essensa. IF that's the case we have a really big problem on our hands.

I agree what you're saying about it still being on Monty, but looking from his perspective of being a brand new coach and having Essena who has been here for what? 12 years or more? EDIT: 16 seasons

It kind of makes sense as a new head coach to defer to the coach who worked with both goalies last year and who specializes in goalies.

Doesn't absolve him of anything, but just saying I think it's understandable why he would defer to him. I love Essensa and seems like he is a large reason we always have great goaltending, but playing Rask and Ullmark hurt is something the organization needs to look into. That's two poor decisions (by Bob or by the head coach) at a position that really shouldn't be playing hurt.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

i think he wouldve been over there quicker than swayman.
swayman wasnt square on that one

Honestly think Ullmark would get there quicker? Why?

Swayman is quicker even when Ullmark is healthy.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

I agree what you're saying about it still being on Monty, but looking from his perspective of being a brand new coach and having Essena who has been here for what? 12 years or more?

It kind of makes sense as a new head coach to defer to the coach who worked with both goalies last year and who specializes in goalies.

Doesn't absolve him of anything, but just saying I think it's understandable why he would defer to him. I love Essensa and seems like he is a large reason we always have great goaltending, but playing Rask and Ullmark hurt is something the organization needs to look into. That's two poor decisions (by Bob or by the head coach) at a position that really shouldn't be playing hurt.

This was Bob's 16th season.