Oilers reportedly interested in Linus Ullmark
The Edmonton Oilers apparently looked in on Linus Ullmark during the summer and may be contacting the Bruins soon if their current goalie duo don’t improve.
The respective efforts of Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner for the Oilers in Vancouver, is open to interpretation. One take doing the rounds, is that the duo were hung out to dry by those in front of them during the season opener.
Another perspective is that neither Campbell or Skinner did what was asked of them, when called upon. Or, you may be of the opinion that both points of view carry some weight.
Regardless, there is no denying the goaltending position was under fire due to allowing eight goals on Wednesday night. As a result, there are already concerns about what to expect between the pipes as the 2023-24 season progresses.
It was genuinely believed that Campbell was over the worst statistical season of his career, after an impressive pre-season. Meanwhile, the hope was that Skinner would continue where he left off, after his breakout campaign last season.
We appreciate that one game is way too soon to push the panic button, even though an 8-1 loss on opening night was an alarming outcome. However, this doesn’t mean the Oilers aren’t already contemplating alternatives in goal. (In fairness, it is part of the job to constantly evaluate your roster and other potential options.)
NHL source
Consider what an NHL executive source told Boston Hockey Now on Thursday. As per Jimmy Murphy, the source said:
“I can tell you right now, a few more of those from either goalie, and (Ken Holland) is on the horn looking for a goalie.”
What’s of particular interest though, is one of the options Holland and the Oilers could be after. As the source continued:
“If he’s getting a goalie, he’s getting the solution, not a stop-gap. I heard they definitely looked in on (Linus) Ullmark and (Jeremy) Swayman over the summer, so if that’s true, Kenny is calling (Bruins GM) Don Sweeney soon, maybe.”
Certainly, you can understand why the Oilers would have inquired about Ullmark in particular during the summer. After all, we’re talking about a goaltender who had one of the great regular season campaigns.
The 30-year-old led the NHL in wins (40), save percentage (.938) and GAA (1.89). Unsurprisingly he won the Vezina Trophy, while also sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy with Swayman.
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What would it take for the Oilers to land Ullmark?
Of course wanting to trade for Ullmark is one thing, but making it come to fruition is another thing altogether. Obstacles include the Oilers’ limited salary cap space — $395,000 at the time of writing — versus the goalie’s annual cap hit of $5 million for these next two seasons.
Given this combination of circumstances, Jim Parsons of The Hockey Writers reasons the Oilers would have to get creative. One such scenario would be to trade Skinner ($2.6 million cap) and Ryan McLeod ($2.1 million) for Ullmark, as well as any appropriate draft picks.
However, another scenario we find more agreeable, would be to offer Campbell in exchange for Ullmark. Aside from just being a straight up one-for-one swap, it works financially with both goalies having the same cap hit and being around the same age.
We appreciate though that this is easier said than done, given Campbell has proven to be talented but extremely inconsistent during his time in the NHL. (Interestingly though, Ullmark had a similar reputation prior to last season.)
In addition, the Oilers netminder has two extra years on his contract. As such, the Bruins would likely still want extra incentive, including the aforementioned appropriate draft picks.
Even then, you have to consider Ullmark himself and what he wants. He has a 16-team no-trade list for this season, and 15 teams for the 2024-25 campaign, which may or may not include the Oilers.
Finally, as noted by Murphy, the 2012 Buffalo Sabres draft pick is happy in Boston. He and his family feel settled in the area and don’t really want to keep moving from team to team.
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Overall, this is all just a case of the panic and overreaction caused by a freak result on opening night for the Oilers. The reality is nothing’s going to happen anytime soon and even if and when Holland and company do look for alternative goalie options, they are unlikely to land Ullmark. (Not that this writer would have any issue with being proved wrong.)