After the Boston Bruins were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the spring of 2024, the signs were there that changes were coming for the Black and Gold with their roster. Mainly between the pipes, as it was time for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney to decide between Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark.
One year after Ullmark put together a dominant 2022-23 season that won him the Vezina Trophy, Swayman took command of the crease the following season, including in the playoffs. That led to the front office trading Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators and putting the chips on the table for Swayman to be the guy in Boston.
The Bruins are still reaping the benefits from the trade with forward Mark Kastelic, a big part of their fourth line, Dean Letourneau, one of their top prospects they were able to pick with the first-round draft pick they received, and they have since flipped goalie Joonas Korpisalo for defenseman Will Borgen with the New York Rangers. Swayman was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, and he's off to a good start in 2026-27. However, so is Ullmark, and he's having a better season so far than his former teammate.
Former Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark off to a torrid start in 2026-27
One team in the Atlantic Division that went through some big changes this past offseason was the Senators. They traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, but so far, they are not missing their former captain, thanks to Ullmark.
On Monday night, Ullmark stopped 29 of 30 shots the New Jersey Devils fired at him in a 4-1 win, Ottawa's third straight. Bruins fans saw how good Ullmark has been this season just one week earlier, when he made 10 saves through two periods before being removed from the game in the third period of a 4-1 Sens victory. It was a game Ottawa dominated from the beginning and took advantage of Black and Gold mistakes.
As far as Ullmark is concerned, he has been perfect to begin the season. After the win over New Jersey, he is 5-0-0 with a 1.27 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage. Ullmark has allowed just six goals on 116 shots this season. The Senators are going to be a problem this winter, and a big reason is Ullmark.
In the end, Boston made the right decision by going with Swayman, but don't be surprised if Ullmark is in the race for the Vezina Trophy at the end of the season. Bruins fans have seen him take over a season and play out of his mind before.
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