Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast – They Really Did It … episode on if Linus Ullmark will find yourself in Ottawa with an extension. The Toronto Maple Leafs could also be taking a look at free agency and never as much within the trade market. Will the Detroit Red Wings be searching for a goalie?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Marek: “Meanwhile, Eliotte, before we get to among the news from earlier on this week, on Thursday, we had a conversation on the radio in regards to the way forward for Linus Ullmark and the Boston Bruins.
I believe there’s a few points here that we must always probably sharpen the pencil on as well. The character of the no-trade, the character of perhaps an extension coming together with waiving the no-trade to go to certain markets. How do you have a look at the Linus Ullmark, Boston situation?”
Friedman: “I believe the extension you mentioned there may be a really big a part of this. Like I believe the reports of Ottawa and Boston discussing and Ullmark trade are very true. , I believe it’s taken on added urgency because Markstrom is now off the board. Darcy Kuemper is now off the board. And likewise a team that was searching for a goalie, the Kings at the moment are out of the image.
NHL Rumors: What’s the Goalie Trade Market Looking Like Now?
So along with you recognize, just the proven fact that Ottawa was searching for a goalie and I believe Boston would love to maneuver Ullmark. The variety of dance partners, it’s like last dance on the prom, should you didn’t include a date, you must make certain you discover anyone to bounce with, right? And so we’re at we’re form of attending to that stage now.
I assumed Steve Yzerman in his pre-draft availability, he had it on Friday and he said something very interesting about, like we’d heard that Detroit was within the goalie market, and he confirmed that, but he did make a degree of claiming, ‘I’m not searching for someone who’s going to be here for 2 or three years, after which leave.’ I assumed that was a really interesting quote.
We all know Toronto’s in on the goalie market. But I believe that’s more of a (Laurent) Brossoit, Anthony Stolarz type piece now that they, I believe they ,I heard they’re offered to Calgary was comparable to Recent Jersey’s but I believe due to all of the politics there, I believe Toronto was going to should blow anyone else out of the water to get that player.
I also think Markstrom at the top of the day preferred Recent Jersey most but you recognize, he opened it up to groups like Toronto and Ottawa within the Eastern Conference. But I believe the Maple Leafs were really going to should win that deal.
But look, now you’ve got a situation where Boston’s looking and saying oh boy, like what number of other places are reasonably going to be taking a look at goaltenders that we are able to send Ullmark to? And Ottawa was gonna be looking around and saying okay, what else is out there? There’s Ullmark. There’s John Gibson. I don’t even know if that’s possible to work out or how Ottawa feels about that.
Ullmark’s no-trade list dropped from 16 last 12 months to 14 this 12 months. And the thing you actually should discuss Jeff is, the best way agents and players shape this. It’s not so simple as saying, take the 14 places I hate probably the most and put them on the list. It’s also, it’s also strategic within the sense that they’ll go search for it they usually’ll say, ‘Well, this team doesn’t need a goalie. We could get traded to this team that needs a goalie. So how can we feel about it? And if we don’t prefer it, we higher make certain that teams on the list.’ Like plenty of these lists are very strategic about who’s going to want you that you might not need to go to.
So you recognize, Ottawa I consider is on the list. But one in every of the things I’ve really heard here, Jeff, is that should you’re going to pay the value that Boston is asking, which is an enormous price, are you going to be comfortable with Ullmark as a rental, or are you going to need to have an extension in place?
And that results in two problems. Primary, would UIllmark need to extend there and number two, would Ullmark, are you able to get, can two sides make a deal that each say Ottawa and Ullmark can be completely satisfied with? And I from what I’ve heard, that’s going to be a challenge.
Like I do think Recent Jersey checked out all mark two along with Markstrom and I believe that was a challenge there as well. Markstrom has two years left so it’s a bit of less of a priority but I believe that was a problem.
And you recognize, one in every of the things about last 12 months with LA and whatever happened there. , I don’t think Ullmark was crazy about relocating his family through the season. I believe he was more open to a brisker scenario now, versus in the midst of the 12 months where his family was not affected. Nevertheless, I believe now the extension becomes as big a priority for everyone involved if the value is high.
Now the opposite thing that might occur to Jeff because there appear to be less dance partners, I ponder if Boston goes to feel pressure to come back down on its price. Like there’s you recognize, like, like that is Yzerman quote, like if he’s concerned with Ullmark that claims to me, he wants all mark with an extension.”
Marek: “I wouldn’t be surprised that, that in anyway from Steve Yzerman. Perhaps I can be mildly surprised about trading throughout the division. Perhaps I put more on that than then other people but is it a priority should you’re Don Sweeney?”
Friedman: “Ottawa is similar division.”
Marek: “Ottawa’s in the identical.”
Friedman: “So that you get, so long as you get your price you make the deal. Like Burky was an enormous guy like that. He didn’t like the thought of trading a goalie throughout the division. Brian Murray did it with Ben Bishop. But should you get the value you would like, you make the deal.”
Marek: “The one thing, that’s the one position I all the time get a bit of bit squirmy about. Normally I’m, throughout the division not, not an enormous deal, apart from goalies. That’s the just one that perhaps that’s that little bit of like old-school considering I want to get out of my brain but I still have it’s specifically for goaltenders
Speaking of goaltenders.”
Friedman: “But like should you look, should you look on the market now, other than Ullmark, who’s, who’s, who’s on the market? There’s Gibson, you recognize, Anaheim would move him but they really don’t need to eat money.”
Marek: “I do know Don Waddell, that deal, Don Waddell has talked about you recognize, nobody’s taking the contract but Elvis Merzlikins.”
Friedman: “Can I discuss that for a second? , I believe that’s that could be a shot from Don Waddell across the bow of Elvis Merzlikins.”
Marek: “After all it’s. Totally. And …”
Friedman: “That was a challenge now and Don Waddell got here in cowboy boots as much as his neck. He’s like, Elvis. I’m coming right at you.”
Marek: “It’s gonna be an enchanting time for the, for the Columbus Blue Jackets. There’s that. There’s the Patrick Laine situation as well. There’s who’s, there’s who’s going to be the coach if you might have a thought on that one. Elliotte?”
Friedman: “Any person told me really to pump the brakes on Patrick Laine too. Like they only said like there’s plenty of conversations that should occur here first. Slow, decelerate on that one I used to be told and I obviously I believe we’re all very sensitive to what, what he’s going through.
But appear to be other than that, like, there are excellent like, options available just like the Brossoit’s and the Stolarz is of the world. But I believe everybody’s form of wondering, like what’s, like should you’re searching for a primary goalie, we’ve got Ullmark, you’ve got Gibson, who else is out there now?
NHL Rumors: The Ottawa Senators May Not Wish to Pay the Asking Price for Linus Ullmark
So you recognize the, the challenge becomes even greater, especially with Ullmark’s no-trade and potential extension or non-extension playing a task in all of this.”
