Rumor: Boston Bruins Interested In Goaltender Linus Ullmark

In their quest to replace both Tuuka Rask and Jaroslav Halak this summer, the Boston Bruins have zeroed in on Buffalo Sabers goaltender and UFA Linus Ullmark. While Boston liked what they saw from both Jeremy Swayman and Dan Vladar last season, the Bruins seemingly want to bring in a more seasoned NHL netminder to provide some stability in net for their two young goalies.

Ullmark fits that bill, posting some genuinely stunning regular-season numbers last year while back-stopping part of Buffalo's 18-game losing streak and seeing his team finish dead last in the NHL. Ullmark's 2.63 GAA and .917sv% put him right in the middle of the pack for NHL goaltenders, and potentially show him to be an above-average netminder considering he only won 9 of the 20 games he started. In fact, his numbers have been steadily improving since he became a full-time NHLer a few years ago, despite Buffalo's record trending in the opposite direction. Given the chance on a more robust team like Boston, we could see the emergence of a true #1 goalie in Ullmark.

Drafted 163rd overall by Buffalo in 2012, Ullmark has started 117 NHL games, recording his 50th career win just last season. He is coming off a 1-year contract that saw him earn $2.6 million, and will be looking for both a raise and some term with his next deal. Could the Bruins be the team to offer it, or are they more interested in seeing their two rookies make a full-time jump to the show?

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