ULLMARK TRADE TALKS PICKING UP

EDMONTON, AB — With Jacob Markstrom off the market and Darcy Kuemper back in Los Angeles, two teams have filled their needs between the pipes in the middle of the Stanley Cup Final.

The New Jersey Devils finally landed Markstrom from the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, while the Kings acquired Kuemper from the Washington Capitals in a surprise move for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Things could have gone a little differently had the Flames not pulled a 180 and retained $1.875 million of Markstrom’s annual cap hit and salary.

According to a well-placed source with knowledge of the situation, the Devils were also engaged in heavy trade discussions with the Boston Bruins for Linus Ullmark, but the combination of Boston’s high asking price and Calgary’s decision to eat some of Markstrom’s contract pushed that move forward.

Coincidentally, there are some within the Kings organization who believed Los Angeles tried to move Dubois in a deal for Ullmark prior to the trade deadline.

Now, the Bruins shift their focus elsewhere, as GM Don Sweeney has been having trade discussions with other clubs about Ullmark, who also owns a 14-team no-trade list (not 15 teams, as some have reported).

There is a growing belief that Ullmark will find a new home within the next two weeks. The Bruins have other holes to fill, and with Jeremy Swayman about to cash in on a big contract extension – I’m told those discussions are moving positively – Ullmark is preparing for a potential move.

Sweeney is expected to escalate some those other trade talks as early today, though it is unclear how many teams remain in the hunt. As I mentioned on NHL Network on Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators pushed for Ullmark during the season and have recently circled back in a big way, while the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes are three other teams weighing their goaltending options.

The Leafs are not in the mix for Ullmark, though, as Toronto is on his no-trade list. Ottawa is also believed to be on his list, but two separate sources have told me he would accept a trade to the Senators if a deal between the two teams is finalized.

Talks between the Bruins and Senators are ongoing, but Boston is not interested in taking back Joonas Korpisalo in a trade – Korpisalo has four more years left on his contract and comes with a $4 million cap hit – and Ottawa GM Steve Staios will need to be creative if he wants to land Ullmark or another No.1 netminder.

Ullmark, who ranks No.4 on the TFP Summer Trade Watch List, isn’t the only top goalie on the block. The Nashville Predators must also decide whether to entertain calls for Juuse Saros, who is entering the final year of his contract. I was told during the season Saros will be looking for at least $8 million per season on his next contract and it doesn’t sound like the Predators have much of an appetite to sign him to that figure on a long-term deal; not with Yaroslav Askorov ready to take the next step.

Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild is also available, and Wild GM Bill Guerin is prepared to move him and his appealing $3.75 million salary cap hit for the right price, and the Anaheim Ducks are still open to moving John Gibson.

The Bruins have around $21 million in available salary cap space to play with, and at least $8 million of that will go towards Swayman’s next deal. Moving Ullmark and his $5 million cap hit would allow Sweeney to spread their dollars across their roster and the next 10 days should paint a clearer picture in Boston.

Stay tuned, things are heating up in Beantown.

HERE AND THERE

• As reported on Wednesday, the Maple Leafs want to get bigger on the blueline and are looking for big, physical defencemen. One player no longer on their radar is Mario Ferraro. The Leafs and San Jose Sharks had discussions during the season, but I’m told he does not fit their current plan.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets are not looking to trade or buy out goalie Elvis Merzlikins, GM Don Waddell told The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline. That’s another team out of the goalie mix.

• Columbus would like to hammer out a Patrik Laine trade this month. That’s the preference, and Waddell said today he wants to make “a hockey trade.”

• Rumblings Wednesday over a potential Ottawa/Philadelphia trade have led to endless speculation over what that could mean. I’m not sure what it may look like, but here’s what we know: the Flyers have had interest in Jakob Chychrun and the Senators have had interest in Scott Laughton. Philly is also looking to move up in the Draft. Do the dots connect?

• Also on the Flyers, they are open to trading winger Joel Farabee and have been shopping him.

• With an extra $3.25 million in cap space, the Kings will look to add at both ends of the rink. Viktor Arvidsson will test the market and if he ends up leaving, LA will want to fill that hole – Jake DeBrusk could be a target. Meanwhile, contract talks with Matt Roy’s camp are still ongoing, but nothing else to report beyond that right now.

• Vegas continues to have ongoing discussions with Jonathan Marchessault’s agent Pat Brisson about a new contract. A deal didn’t sound close as of Wednesday, but both sides want to get this done. I want a Ferrari Roma. It’s going to take me a little longer to achieve my goal, but we’ll see if the Golden Knights can make things happen sooner on their end.

• The Sharks aren’t done adding to their lineup, expect them to continue to add veteran pieces both via trades and free agency. San Jose wants to strengthen their defence, and that could be the next area they address.

• We reported this week on Monday Mix with Anthony Di Marco that Utah is open to trading the sixth-overall pick. All options seem to be on the table, from moving down in the Draft to shipping the pick out entirely for a young, NHL-proven stud. We’ll see if GM Bill Armstrong can work some magic.

• Seattle seems to be a team to watch. Kraken GM Ron Francis doesn’t let much out, but word around the NHL is he’s pushing for a goal-scoring forward. As I reported on NHL Network yesterday, they’ve been tied to Martin Necas and Patrik Laine. I also wonder about Trevor Zegras.

• Buffalo is another club looking to make a splash this summer and wants to add more scoring punch to the lineup. We’ll see what Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has up his sleeve, as he’s been dangling the 11th overall pick in the Draft, as well.

• The NHL is expecting all nominees and current winners to attend the NHL Awards next week in Las Vegas. The NHLPA is also holding meetings Thursday and Friday (good luck with punctual attendance). Some of the nominees and winners will be at the NHL Draft, welcoming their team’s new first-round selection.

• Expect to see something else fun during the NHL Draft that the NHL will be unveiling starting in the first-round.

• Be sure to tune in to a very special Pre Draft Show, Hot Stove edition, from 12-2pm PT on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with myself, Dennis Bernstein and Ryan Paton on Friday, June 28, as we’ll be broadcasting from inside the SiriusXM studio at Wynn Las Vegas.

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