Just three days after Jeremy Swayman signed a significant contract extension, his former Boston Bruins teammate Linus Ullmark also secured a long-term deal.
Swayman’s contract is bigger in both total value and length, as he signed an eight-year, $66 million deal. Ullmark’s contract, though shorter at four years, will see him earning the same average annual value (AAV) of $8.25 million, with a total of $33 million.
Swayman had no issues with Ullmark’s AAV matching his own. While Swayman aimed to reset the goalie market with his deal, he may have sparked a series of similar signings this week.
Swayman expressed happiness for Ullmark and Seattle Kraken’s Joey Daccord, who also signed a five-year, $25 million contract on Wednesday. “It’s a goalie union,” Swayman said after Boston’s 6-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. “Winning games in this league is tough, and seeing guys rewarded like that is amazing. Both those guys work really hard, and I couldn’t be happier for them and their teams.”
Unlike Swayman, who was a restricted free agent and missed training camp, Ullmark was in the final year of his previous four-year deal. However, Ottawa took care of Ullmark’s contract situation, and the Swedish goalie rewarded them with 30 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in his debut.
Swayman had an emotional return to the ice Thursday, with a 20-save performance for the Bruins. The only thing missing was the traditional celebratory hug with Ullmark after the win.
