Linus Ullmark was Buffalo’s MVP last season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

NHL free agent tracker: Sabres lose goalie Linus Ullmark to Bruins

Linus Ullmark has chosen to leave his gig as the Buffalo Sabres’ starting goalie to join the Boston Bruins as a free agent, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

The Swede’s departure is a huge loss for the Sabres, who don’t have a replacement in the organization.

Last season, Ullmark was the Sabres’ backbone and MVP, compiling a 9-6-3 record with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 20 games for a last-place team that won just 15 of its 56 contests.

Ullmark, who turns 28 on Saturday, might be the Bruins’ new No. 1 goalie. Tuukka Rask, their top netminder for nearly a decade, recently underwent hip surgery and is unsigned.

Earlier today, the Sabres also lost backup Carter Hutton goalie, who signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes. So the Sabres must find two goalies.

The Sabres drafted Ullmark in the sixth round in 2012, 163rd overall.

Ullmark arrived in North America in 2015, making his NHL debut after just three appearances with the Rochester Americans. He played 20 NHL games as a rookie in 2015-16.

Still, Ullmark spent most of the next two seasons in Rochester, morphing into one of the AHL’s best goalies.

Ullmark graduated to Buffalo in 2018-19, first serving as Hutton’s backup. But over the last two years, he wrestled the starting job away from Hutton, compiling a 26-20-6 record in 54 games.

4 thoughts on “NHL free agent tracker: Sabres lose goalie Linus Ullmark to Bruins”

  1. And knowing this could happen, with a chance at the 2 top-rated goaltenders in the draft, they passed.
    No attempts at all to pick up another during free agency. This coming season is going to be the dumpster fire of all dumpster fires.

    1. What?! Are you being serious?

      Wallstadt and Cossa are both goalies that project to be good players – 3 to 5 years. They mean absolutely nothing this year.

      Devon Levi may have a better career than either. This is not fanciful wishful thinking. He’s played lights out everywhere he’s played. The G position was NOT ignored at the draft.

      1. Of course I’m serious. None of them are projected to be NHL-ready for at least two years. So who plays goal? That, and now we have to play against a guy who knows the team because he went to the Sabres chief rival. You answered what I said yourself.

  2. What’s with OUR SO-CALLED GM ? He can’t seem to manage anything ! Linus was a must signing for a floundering, free-falling organization! Can our GM convince any player that Buffalo is a great town to be a part of and establish your career in ? Pegulas take note!
    PIP

Leave a Reply to Pascal Ipolito Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *