Confirmed Signing with Link: [OTT] G Linus Ullmark signs extension with the Ottawa Senators (4 years, $8.25M AAV)

[wintersej]

Lmfao the Bruins home crowd was chanting "we want Swayman"

The game was in Florida

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Colorado won with Kuemper. He had consistently put up several .910 SV%+ seasons before going there, and they traded a top prospect + 1st rounder to get him.

That's not what you trade for a "whatever" goalie. They traded a haul because they thought he was a top goalie, and he provided them with a .921 SV% and cup win.

He wasn't someone they grabbed off waivers.

I'll give you Hill, though.

No. The Avs traded a 1st + Timmins to get Kuemper because they were fully committed to re-signing Grubauer, and got caught with their pants down when he signed with Seattle and were therefore forced to overpay for the best/only "whatever" goalie that was available. It was either that, or go into the season with Francouz, who missed the entire previous season due to injury, as the only NHL caliber goalie on the roster.

 

[PlayMakers]

Good deal. Happy for Linus.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Huge overpayment. Ottawa is a cemetery for goalies, RIP to your stats Ullmark.

I'll take Adin Hill for $5M with ease, a goalie who took his team to a cup compared to Ullmark who folds up like a cheap suit in the playoffs. But Ottawa won't be sniffing the playoffs in the next 4 years so it won't matter for Linux anyways.

Sens had to overpay, Ullmark wasn't going to sign there with discounts.

Ah a goalie playing behind a team 10m over the cap built upon a bunch of 2-way forwards and a superb d core is a great comp to Ottawa's situation.

I am not totally sold on Ullmark being a top 10 goalie but I totally understand Ottawa's thinking here.

 

[Sens9292]

If OTT is getting who they hope they’re getting, this is a decent deal. If it turns out that he actually is just a “system goalie,” then woof.

Not sure I understand the urgency to do this before he plays a single game

Is Swayman also a system goalie? Why is one considered top talent and the narrative for the other is that he benefits from a system.

 

[Sens9292]

The whole point I said is that Boston is very friendly system wise to their goalies and he wasn’t some unflappable monster in Buffalo. Therefore this isn’t exactly a sure thing.

Again for the third time, I’m sure this will be fine and you have to do it if you’re Ottawa. But I could see him not living up to this number

Is Swayman also not elite and benefiting from Boston’s system?

 

[MOGlLNY]

Is Swayman also not elite and benefiting from Boston’s system?

the fact both of their stats are so high and similar, it’s entirely possible.

 

[conFABulator]

I feel like this is both a good signing and possibly a bad deal.

Ottawa needs a solid goalie to go with the core they have committed to. Ullmark has had a solid run and looks like he could be the answer.

On the other hand, there is no discount here at all and possibly even a premium. This is what certain markets have to do to attract and retain top talent. If it turns out that Ullmark was largely a product of Boston's system, or if age catches up with him, or if he can't handle a heavy workload then this could become the worst contract on the Sens' cap.

I think it was a risk they had to to take and there is a chance it works out for a few years.

 

[MOGlLNY]

I feel like this is both a good signing and possibly a bad deal.

Ottawa needs a solid goalie to go with the core they have committed to. Ullmark has had a solid run and looks like he could be the answer.

On the other hand, there is no discount here at all and possibly even a premium. This is what certain markets have to do to attract and retain top talent. If it turns out that Ullmark was largely a product of Boston's system, or if age catches up with him, or if he can't handle a heavy workload then this could become the worst contract on the Sens' cap.

I think it was a risk they had to to take and there is a chance it works out for a few years.

This is essentially what I’ve been saying. Ottawa absolutely will not get a better chance at a goalie but I think it’s gonna be hard for Ullmark to live up to this.

That being said if they make the playoffs this year it’s probably worth it to them just for that alone

 

[Bmessy]

Everyone was complaining Swayman doesn't have enough starts. His career high are 43 and 41.
Ullmark's career high is 49 and 39.

Yet crickets about Ullmark's ability to play the bulk of the games. I'd have to guess his 49 starts are the lowest by a Vezina in the last 10 years.

I think both will be good deals. Ullmark will be worse on Ottawa because of their team but thats the nature of the beast. Both deals will be fine.

 

[conFABulator]

This is essentially what I’ve been saying. Ottawa absolutely will not get a better chance at a goalie but I think it’s gonna be hard for Ullmark to live up to this.

That being said if they make the playoffs this year it’s probably worth it to them just for that alone

Agreed.

I believe Ottawa is a much improved team this year with Ullmark, hopefully some health, and continued growth and development of key pieces. There adds were solid also.

Having said this, a lot needs to break their way to make the playoffs. They probably need 20 more points to be in the conversation and that's a lot. It is a tough division also. Maybe this is the year five teams from the Atlantic make it.

 

[SyZyGY]

Lmfao the Bruins home crowd was chanting "we want Swayman"

Tell me you didn't watch the game without telling me

 

[Aoko]

Should've waited at least a couple of games. That's a lot of money for a guy that hasn't played for you.

 

[BelovedIsles]

Where’s the forehead?

 

[NyQuil]

I feel like this is both a good signing and possibly a bad deal.

Ottawa needs a solid goalie to go with the core they have committed to. Ullmark has had a solid run and looks like he could be the answer.

On the other hand, there is no discount here at all and possibly even a premium. This is what certain markets have to do to attract and retain top talent. If it turns out that Ullmark was largely a product of Boston's system, or if age catches up with him, or if he can't handle a heavy workload then this could become the worst contract on the Sens' cap.

I think it was a risk they had to to take and there is a chance it works out for a few years.

Part of it is the market but part of it is the non-playoff streak.

Even smaller markets can become attractive destinations if they start looking like a Cup contender.

When you are a small market with high taxes and a recent record of mediocrity, you’re not going to have guys lining up for team friendly deals.

I think Ottawa did the best they could under these circumstances.

Giroux is a rare outlier in that it’s basically his hometown team.

 

[conFABulator]

Part of it is the market but part of it is the non-playoff streak.

Even smaller markets can become attractive destinations if they start looking like a Cup contender.

When you are a small market with high taxes and a recent record of mediocrity, you’re not going to have guys lining up for team friendly deals.

I think Ottawa did the best they could under these circumstances.

Giroux is a rare outlier in that it’s basically his hometown team.

I agree with this, I was going to disagree and say that it seems that players do not want to play in smaller, Canadian markets...however Edmonton seems to be disproving that...it did take two of the best players in the world and a deep, deep playoff run though.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Is Swayman also a system goalie? Why is one considered top talent and the narrative for the other is that he benefits from a system.

I don't consider there to be much of a difference between them in terms of talent level. To me, the reason for different narratives is expectations.

I think most people expect Boston to continue to be a legit playoff team for the foreseeable future, and one of the better defensive teams in the NHL. Therefore, Swayman should have every opportunity to put up good numbers for the next few years. And he's only 25, so there's still 7 or 8 years before his age really becomes a concern. So, he's a relatively safe bet.

As for Ottawa, the expectations are a lot fuzzier. Will this finally be the year their young talent puts it together and they don't suck, or is it going to be more of the same? Because of this uncertainty, what kind of opportunity Ullmark will have to put up good numbers is also unknown. And he's 31, so there's only another year or two before he hits the age most goalies start to decline. Add all this up, and it's easy to see why expectations in Ottawa are pretty low and people are already mentally preparing for failure.

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

Everyone was complaining Swayman doesn't have enough starts. His career high are 43 and 41.
Ullmark's career high is 49 and 39.

Yet crickets about Ullmark's ability to play the bulk of the games. I'd have to guess his 49 starts are the lowest by a Vezina in the last 10 years.

I think both will be good deals. Ullmark will be worse on Ottawa because of their team but thats the nature of the beast. Both deals will be fine.

Have a look at his playoff stats if you want a sneak peek of what happens when he plays the bulk of the games .

 

[NyQuil]

I enjoyed when the shots were like 16-1 Florida at one point.

Prime Dominik Hasek wouldnt have made a difference for the Bruins last night, they were ass.

I remember Copeisalo comments like this one.

 

[Hale The Villain]

At four years this is a no-brainer extension for Ottawa.

Feel like this is the big thing people are missing.

Ullmark's numbers over his career are very comparable to other top goalies in this league like Hellebuyck and Saros, yet those two got extensions at a similar cap hit until they are 38 years old, while Ullmark's deal will end when he's 35.

Thought for sure he'd demand a 7-8 year contract at around 7-8M to re-sign in Ottawa, a non-ideal destination for most players in this league.

There's always risk signing players in their 30s to big money deals, but as long as the term is reasonable the risk can be managed. No brainer signing for that reason.