ULLMARK LEADS HOT GOALIE MARKET; MARNER WANTS TO STAY

TORONTO, ON — The Boston Bruins will have a decision to make in the coming weeks on the future of goaltender Linus Ullmark.

Ullmark is entering the final year of his contract that carries a $5 million salary cap hit. The Bruins could use the extra cap flexibility and have other areas of the team to address, including getting Jeremy Swayman locked up to a new eight-year extension.

Bruins GM Don Sweeney would love to hold on to Ullmark, “in a perfect world,” but that seems unlikely – as much as Ullmark wants to stay in Boston. There was plenty of interest in the 2023 Vezina winner during the season and there will continue to be this summer.

“We’re going to explore opportunities,” Sweeney told reporters this week. “My phone’s going to ring. I’m going to make calls. That’s just what the job requires and at times, unfortunately, things start to leak out and that’s your job. You guys do a hell of a job of figuring those things out, piecing them together.”

The Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes are among the teams that expressed interest in Ullmark during the season – we know the Kings and Sens pitched offers before the trade deadline – and I’ve got to think all four clubs will reach out this summer, if they haven’t already. The Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings could reach out next month, too.

According to the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, the Senators are already planning to reengage in their pursuit of the Swedish netminder ahead of the NHL Draft.

Ullmark has no-trade protection and wasn’t interested in accepting a move to a team currently on his 16-team no-trade list, which drops to a 15-team no-trade list July 1.

With Cam Talbot and Ilya Samsonov being the only No.1 goalies this season set to become an unrestricted free agents, the goalie trade market will be fascinating to watch. In addition to Ullmark, the futures of Jacob Markstrom, Juuse Saros, Filip Gustavsson, Elvis Merzlikins, John Gibson, Joonas Korpisalo and Frederik Andersen with their current teams are up in the air.

The Devils will surely circle back with Calgary on Markstrom; he thought he was going there during the season and was understandably bitter when a move fell through. If they can’t iron out a deal with the Flames, does New Jersey pivot to Ullmark or someone else?

Senators GM Steve Staios will take calls on Jakob Chychrun again, but will he try to move the blueliner in a deal for scoring help or a new netminder? What about Toronto, who are likely walking away from Samsonov and want to give Joseph Woll some cover? Assuming Boston wouldn’t trade a No.1 to a rival – the Leafs would never (!) – is Saros the guy for them?

The Bruins want to address their centre position this summer and are likely going to add a second-pair, right shot defenceman. Sweeney made it clear they want more fire power up front, as well. Dealing Ullmark could fill one of those needs.

MARNER WANTS TO STAY

As of Friday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs have not approached Mitch Marner and his agent Darren Ferris about the 27-year-old’s contract or potentially waiving his no-movement clause. I still believe that discussion will occur at some point in the not-too-distant future, but as of now it hasn’t happened.

In speaking with those close to Marner’s camp, it remains clear his desire to stay in Toronto has not wavered. I’m told Marner’s preference and priority is to be with the Maple Leafs long-term. That’s his goal. Do the Maple Leafs feel differently? That is what management will discuss and debate internally.

I believe both parties understand what the ballpark looks like to getting an extension done. Those formal negotiations have not taken place, either, but the Leafs know what it will take to get Marner inked to a new deal. They must weigh the pros and cons, as they view it, and as Leafs President Brendan Shanahan repeatedly stated two weeks ago, “we will consider everything this summer.”

There is no doubt in my mind Marner will be extremely disappointed if the Maple Leafs opt for a change, and he is entirely within his right to hold firm and exercise his NMC. However, if the Maple Leafs decide they want to explore the trade market and ask Marner for a list of teams he would waive his NMC for, it is my understanding he will consider his options, as I reported earlier this month. Teams like Nashville, Vegas, Chicago and Dallas are just four clubs I would keep an eye on, if/when Leafs GM Brad Treliving goes shopping.

One thing to consider, if Toronto goes down this path, they will want to maximize a return, and MLSE isn’t afraid to flex their financial muscles and pay Marner’s upcoming $7.25 million bonus before finalizing a trade.

It’s hard not to get ahead of ourselves when dealing with such a juicy topic, so there isn’t much else to report until the Leafs and Marner have ‘that’ talk. But rest assured many around the League are interested to see how this plays out.

HERE AND THERE

• Don’t be surprised to see the New York Islanders pull off another trade similar to the one they completed on Friday with Chicago, where they moved back in both the first-round and second-round in order to gain another second-round pick. Is Isles GM Lou Lamoriello trying to stockpile some extra draft picks to add as an incentive for another team to take on a contract?

• Also on the Islanders, I’m curious if they eventually move their first-round pick for someone like Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers.

• With Don Waddell joining the Columbus Blue Jackets, I wonder about the future of Head Coach Pascal Vincent. There has been chatter dating back to the end of the regular-season that a coaching change in Columbus could occur once a new GM is brought in.

• As Carolina begins its search for a fulltime GM, Interim GM Eric Tulsky is the leading favourite for the gig. He has a strong relationship with owner Tom Dundon, and unless Dundon is convinced otherwise, many expect Tulsky to take over. The expectation is Justin Williams will also see his position elevate to an AGM post.

• Many teams are going to be calling Tulsky about Hurricanes forward Martin Necas. He is arbitration eligible and two years away from unrestricted free agency. His father spilled the beans, publicly, anyway, when he told Czech media outlet Denik Sport his son wants an elevated role both five-on-five and on the powerplay. He does, but all parties would have preferred that message to stay internal, and under Rod Brind’Amour’s system, he isn’t likely to get the chance to do so. My understanding is Necas would welcome the opportunity to exploit his talents elsewhere, and he will be a trade candidate this summer.

• A couple of players on Seattle’s radar if they hit free agency in July are Max Domi and Anthony Duclair.

• As I reported earlier this week, Tyler Toffoli will not be back in Winnipeg and will hit the UFA market. There has been a lot of talk he could rejoin New Jersey this summer, but I suspect he’ll look elsewhere. Los Angeles and Vancouver will be among the teams in pursuit this summer.

• Earlier this morning, Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller joined Dennis “Dundee” Bernstein, Ryan Paton and I on “The Hot Stove” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and indicated he will be working with Pierre-Luc Dubois over the summer in Los Angeles in preparation for the 2024-25 campaign: “He and I will have plenty of discussions this summer; I know he’s not happy with his season, he’s said that. I’ve got some thoughts, I’m sure he has some thoughts. We’ll work together on it. Both our goal is for him to come back and have a great season next year.”

• One veteran forward the Maple Leafs may try to add this summer: David Perron.

• The Golden Knights are expected to have a chat with Chandler Stephenson and his camp in the next couple of weeks. He will be highly coveted if he becomes a free agent July 1.

• Everyone anticipates a long Eastern Conference Final, understandably so. With that in mind, the 2024 Stanley Cup Final schedule will continue to have two days off in between travel, as per usual. Game 1 is set for June 8, followed by games penciled in on June 10, 13, 15, 18, 21 and 24.