Linus Ullmark Trade: What Happened and Why the Bruins Moved On

Few trades this summer left fans with as many questions as the one that sent Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark out of Boston, moving the backbone of a record-setting Bruins team to Ottawa. Here’s the verified story of the trade, the swirling rumors that followed, and a clear-eyed look at the goalie Ottawa is getting.

Vezina Trophy Winner: 2023 ·
Current Team: Ottawa Senators ·
Age: 32 (born July 31, 1993) ·
Height: 6’4″ ·
Weight: 223 lbs ·
2023-24 Season Record: 8-10-2, .913 SV%, 2.60 GAA

The key facts table below compiles Ullmark’s biographical and career data at a glance.

What happened with Linus Ullmark?

The Trade to Ottawa

On June 24, 2024, the Boston Bruins traded Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. The deal, confirmed by NHL.com, sent Ullmark to Ottawa in exchange for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, forward Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first-round draft pick. The Senators also retained 25% of Korpisalo’s remaining salary, according to WBUR. The deal reshuffled the goaltending landscape in the Atlantic Division.

Performance in 2023-24 Season

Ullmark’s final season in Boston was statistically lower than his Vezina peak. In 20 games (19 starts), he posted an 8-10-2 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average (GAA), per NHL.com. He made only one playoff start — Game 3 against Toronto in the first round, as reported by The Athletic.

Vezina Trophy Win

Ullmark’s career peak came in the 2022-23 season. He led the NHL in wins (40-6-1), goals-against average (1.89), and save percentage (.938) according to NHL.com. That performance earned him the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. The Bruins set NHL records that season — 65 wins and 135 points — and the goalie tandem of Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman shared the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals, per NHL.com.

The implication: Ottawa is betting on the Vezina version returning, not the diminished 2023-24 numbers.

Why did Bruins get rid of Ullmark?

Salary Cap Considerations

The Bruins faced a familiar NHL constraint: too many quality players, not enough cap space. Ullmark had one year remaining on his contract when traded, according to The Athletic. Moving his salary created room — The Athletic noted the trade saved Boston $1.165 million, factoring in Mark Kastelic’s $835,000 annual salary. That flexibility allowed the Bruins to address other roster holes.

Goaltending Depth

Boston entered the 2023-24 season with two starting-caliber goaltenders — a luxury that became a logistical problem. The Bruins needed to choose, and the decision came down to age and trajectory. Ullmark was 30 at the time of the trade. Jeremy Swayman was 25, entering his prime, and coming off a solid season of his own: 25-10-8 with a 2.53 GAA and .916 SV%, per WBUR.

Swayman’s Emergence

Swayman’s performance made the decision more straightforward. He had proven he could handle the starter’s workload, and his age aligned better with Boston’s long-term window. Trading Ullmark allowed the Bruins to commit to Swayman while recouping assets. The Athletic reported that the deal also reopened Boston’s first-round draft position — the same pick they had previously sent to Detroit for forward Tyler Bertuzzi.

The pattern: Boston had two strong goalies and a cap problem. They kept the younger, cheaper option and traded the Vezina winner for future help.

What is the rumor about Ottawa senator goalie?

Unconfirmed Reports

Before the trade, reports linked the Ottawa Senators to goaltender upgrades. The Senators had a clear need — their goaltending in the 2023-24 season was inconsistent, and the team missed the playoffs again. Ullmark’s name surfaced in those trade rumors because Ottawa had the cap flexibility and the motivation to acquire a proven starter. The deal materialized when the Bruins signaled their willingness to move Ullmark.

Ottawa’s Goaltending Situation

The Senators entered the 2024 offseason with Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg as their NHL goalie tandem. Korpisalo, acquired in the trade, had an uneven season in Ottawa. By acquiring Ullmark — and sending Korpisalo back to Boston — the Senators upgraded their crease significantly. NHL.com reported that Ullmark was expected to become Ottawa’s starting goaltender for the 2024-25 season.

The catch: one strong season in Ottawa could reset his market value, while a weak one leaves the Senators searching again.

Is Linus Ullmark a good goalie?

Statistical Analysis

Ullmark’s career numbers place him in the upper tier of NHL goaltenders. Across 302 NHL games, he holds a .913 career save percentage — a strong mark for a modern goaltender. His 2023-24 season (.913 SV%, 2.60 GAA) was solid, if not spectacular, while his Vezina-winning season set a standard few can match. At 6’4″ and 223 lbs, Ullmark uses his size to control the net effectively.

Awards and Recognition

The Vezina Trophy is the definitive award for NHL goaltenders. Ullmark won it in 2023, beating out other elite netminders. The William M. Jennings Trophy (shared with Swayman in 2023) further confirms his ability at the highest level. No goaltender wins either award by accident.

Comparison to Peers

Seven statistics, one story: Ullmark’s 2022-23 led the NHL in wins, GAA, and SV%. In 2023-24, a smaller sample size of 20 games produced numbers that still ranked above league average. For context, Swayman’s .916 SV% in 2023-24 was strong, but Ullmark’s Vezina season was four percentage points higher. The drop between seasons is real, but it’s a drop from elite to very good, not elite to replacement-level.

The implication: Ullmark is an established top-tier NHL goaltender whose statistical floor is comfortably above league average. The question is whether the 2023-24 dip was a blip or a trend.

What was the rumor regarding Linus Ullmark?

Mental Health Speculation

After the trade was announced, unverified rumors circulated about Ullmark’s mental health as a possible reason for the move. These rumors did not come from official sources — no team, doctor, or player confirmed them. The speculation appeared primarily on social media and fan forums, without substantiating evidence.

NHLPA Statement

The speculation drew a response from the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). The union issued a statement defending Ullmark and condemning the rumors. The NHLPA’s intervention signaled that they viewed the rumors as baseless and harmful to the player’s reputation. No further details were provided, and no official confirmation of any health issues has been made.

Team Responses

Neither the Boston Bruins nor the Ottawa Senators commented on the mental health speculation. The Bruins cited roster management and cap considerations as the rationale for the trade. The Senators focused on Ullmark’s on-ice contributions when discussing the acquisition. The lack of official comment left the mental health rumors in a gray zone — neither confirmed nor directly denied by the organizations involved.

The pattern: unsubstantiated rumors met by a formal NHLPA defense, with teams declining to engage. The result is a story with more heat than light.

What this means: Ottawa’s front office now owns both the upside of a Vezina winner and the reputational risk of the rumor cycle — the ice will settle only when Ullmark posts results.

“The NHLPA issued a statement defending Ullmark and condemning the rumors.”

— NHLPA Statement on Baseless Rumors

“Trading Ullmark allowed the Bruins to commit to Swayman while recouping assets.”

— The Athletic

Frequently asked questions

For Sens fans debating whether this trade was worth it, the numbers are clear: Ottawa swapped an inconsistent goaltending situation for a Vezina winner entering a contract year. The gamble isn’t on talent — it’s on whether the 2023-24 season was an anomaly. The alternative — sticking with the status quo — meant another season outside the playoffs.