Goalie Hugs no longer exist in Boston. General manager Don Sweeney has finally dealt goalie Linus Ullmark. Ullmark waived his no-movement clause and went to the Ottawa Senators. In exchange, the Bruins received goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, forward Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first-round draft pick.
Bruce Garrioch originally speculated that it could take a first-round draft pick and defenseman Jakob Chychrun to acquire Ullmark (from ‘Garrioch: Senators likely will take another run at Boston’s Linus Ullmark in the off-season,’ Ottawa Citizen, 5/23/24). That was clearly not the case, and Ullmark’s return is official. On the surface, it can appear unimpressive. So let’s take a closer look at the elements heading to Boston and how they’ll affect the team in the near future.
One goalie leaves, another enters.
One of the most significant aspects of the trade was the addition of another goalkeeper. The Senators retain 25% of the contract, which means the Bruins only have to pay $3 million every season. After shedding Ullmark and his cap hit, they only manage to save $2 million in the books. That’s a real puzzler.
Korpisalo’s experience has not been entirely negative. He has been able to put together a series of solid seasons while playing with the Columbus Blue Jackets. There was grounds for hope in Korpisalo, which is why the Senators took a chance on him with a big contract. During the 2022-23 season, he wasn’t performing poorly in front of the Blue Jackets’ not-particularly good defense. He had a 3.17 goals-against average (GAA) and a.911 save percentage (SV%). When he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, his numbers improved. In a tiny sample size of 11 games, his GAA dropped to 2.13 and his SV% increased to.921. In addition, his goals saved over expectations were 12.7, a career high.
The transfer to the Senators was a fiasco, and it was not what the front management had planned. Korpisalo finished with the second-worst goals saved above expectations (minus-16.1), while having a.890 SV% and 3.27 GAA. Korpisalo has only finished with more goals saved than projected twice in his career (2015-16, 2022-23). This is not usually a good sign. So, why would Sweeney take a chance on Korpisalo, even if the Senators keep their money?
There is something to be said about the Bruins’ goalkeeper development program. For example, in the summer of 2018, they took a chance by signing goaltender Jaroslav Halak. He was coming off a terrible season with the New York Islanders. During the 2017-18 season, he had a 3.22 GAA and a.908 SV%, but a poor minus-14.8 goals saved over average. After signing with the Bruins, he saw his numbers climb, leading all Bruins goalies with 11.2 goals saved beyond expectations. It was an abrupt turnaround.
The same can be stated about Ullmark. He was never a poor goaltender with the Buffalo Sabres, but he improved dramatically with the Bruins and won the Vezina Trophy. The most important thing to remember about Korpisalo is that his 2022-23 season demonstrated how good he can be when surrounded by a solid squad. The Kings have a systematic defense, similar to the Bruins. Korpisalo has a better chance of turning things around with a bigger presence up front and goalie coach Bob Essensa on his side. However, it appears perplexing to trade a Vezina Trophy-winning goalie for one of the poorest goalies in statistical terms.
Increasing toughness
The Bruins have attempted to restore the “Big Bad Bruins” mindset. Adding grit and physicality to the roster is part of the club’s identity-building strategy. They lived up to that reputation during the 2023-24 season, signing Justin Brazeau and acquiring experienced forward Pat Maroon from the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline. There’s a high chance Maroon will depart the organization in free agency, but the Bruins made sure to strengthen their identity with this deal.
Tom Wilson and Mark Kastelic get into a fight near the end of the 2nd period#ALLCAPS | #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/c7NNYX3b7M
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 19, 2023
Kastelic is a younger player, which is fantastic for the Bruins as they look to get more new players into the lineup. He also brings an element of toughness. He is a large player, at 6-foot-3. He makes the most of his huge physique and adds speed to match his bulk. What he does best exemplifies what the Bruins enjoy most.
Kastelic is a physical player who is not hesitant to throw hits and finish his checks. He finished fifth on the Senators with 126 hits. Also, he is a tough customer who is not hesitant to drop the gloves and defend his teammates. He sounds like the ideal player to represent the Spoked B and don the metaphorical Black and Gold. Aside from his toughness, there is one facet of his game that benefits the Bruins.
There was a noticeable issue with faceoffs during the postseason. During the 2023-24 regular season, Kastelic excelled at winning faceoffs. He concluded the season with a 54.4% success percentage, which is staggering. He is an excellent player to base the bottom six on and adds depth to the Bruins’ lineup.
Getting Back into the First Round
The Boston Bruins now have a draft pick before the fourth round. Ironically, the Bruins formerly owned this draft pick (25th overall). During the 2022-23 season, they traded it to the Detroit Red Wings for Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi proved to be an excellent addition to the Bruins’ roster as they went all-in for the Stanley Cup.
The draft pick moved through the division, with the Red Wings trading it to the Senators in exchange for winger Alex DeBrincat, who has been an important component of Detroit’s rebuilding efforts. Now the pick is making its way back to Boston.
Sweeney will benefit greatly from having a first-round draft pick. It will be critical for him to make an excellent choice, considering the team does not have a pick until the fourth round. Getting back into the first round was critical in this transaction, as the Bruins can now replenish their prospect pool.
The Return of Ullmark
The transaction is now official, and both teams know what they will receive. The Senators have found a legitimate number-one goalkeeper, which is exactly what they were looking for. The Bruins acquired three pieces in the exchange. We’ll see what happens now that all of the components are in place. Can Korpisalo come back? What depth will Kastelic offer? Who will the Bruins select with their draft pick? It everything remains to be seen before anyone can determine who won the transaction.
