However, shortly after the trade, there is speculation that the Bruins might consider buying out Korpisalo’s contract to create cap space ahead of the offseason, according to Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic.
“If the Bruins do not believe Korpisalo is worth the investment, they could execute a buyout,” Shinzawa wrote. “This would allow Brandon Bussi to be [Jeremy] Swayman’s No. 2 in 2024–25. Bussi signed a one-year, two-way, $775,000 contract Monday.”
If the Bruins proceed with a buyout, they would be responsible for $8 million of Korpisalo’s $10,666,667 salary due to the Senators’ salary retention in the Ullmark trade. This amount would be spread out over eight years.
There is no definitive decision on whether Boston will buy out Korpisalo. An anonymous NHL general manager conveyed uncertainty regarding the potential buyout, telling Shinzawa, “Not sure.”
Korpisalo, who signed a five-year, $20 million contract in July 2023, is under contract through the end of the 2028 season with an average cap hit of $4 million per year.
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Analyzing the Linus Ullmark Trade
Shayna Goldman of The Athletic graded the Ullmark trade, giving the Bruins a “C” and the Senators an “A,” suggesting that Ottawa got the better end of the deal.
“At the end of the day, the 25th pick in the NHL Draft on Friday, Mark Kastelic and Joonas Korpisalo combined don’t equal nearly the value Ullmark brings to a lineup,” Goldman wrote. “And none of these pieces address Boston’s most pressing needs upfront.”
Shinzawa also highlighted that Ullmark’s market value was lower in reality than rumored. “The fact the Bruins had to take on Korpisalo’s contract is further confirmation of Ullmark’s market value: not even close to his projected performance in Ottawa,” he noted.
For the Senators, the acquisition of Ullmark provides a reliable starting goaltender. Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy in 2023 as the NHL’s best goaltender and posted a 22-10-7 record with a .915 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average in the 2023-24 season.
https://x.com/SunGarrioch/status/1805386802687262909
Ullmark’s Future in Ottawa
Ullmark has one year remaining on his four-year, $20 million contract, becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025. According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the Senators and Ullmark are already discussing an extension.
“Ullmark has been traded to Ottawa. Two sides working on an extension #Sens,” Garrioch wrote on X following the trade.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that Ullmark had initially listed Ottawa on his no-trade list. Therefore, he had to remove the franchise from the list for the trade to proceed. This leaves the possibility of Ullmark departing in the summer of 2025 if the Senators cannot secure his long-term commitment.
Bruins’ Next Steps
Following the trade, the Bruins gained $1.165 million in cap space, part of which will likely go towards a raise for Jeremy Swayman, whose contract expires on July 1. The Bruins are expected to work on an extension with Swayman, who is set to be their starting goalie for the 2024-25 season.
According to Shinzawa, the Bruins still have significant needs to address, including a top-two center, a scoring wing, and a left-shot defenseman—none of which were resolved in the June 24 trade.
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