Fred Toucher: Bruins Should Start Linus Ullmark in Game 1 against Panthers
On Monday’s edition of Toucher and Hardy, Fred Toucher makes the argument that the Bruins should start Linus Ullmark in game 1 against the Florida Panthers due to the quick turnaround after the conclusion of the Maple Leafs series.
It’s a Quick Turnaround…
Fred Toucher: I’m going to ask you guys, who do you think should start game one goal.
Jon Wallach: That’s that’s a big question. It should be Swayman.
Fred Toucher: See? I don’t think so.
Jon Wallach: It should be Swayman. Look, he’s earned the right to play game one. I understand all of the all of the numbers. Linus Ullmark was fantastic against Florida. Was great against him this year and in his career I think he’s 12-3-1 with the same percentage of almost .930. But, after what you just saw from Jeremy Swayman, especially those last three games, where he single handedly kept the Bruins in it, where they should have lost all three. You can’t sit now.
Fred Toucher: Okay? Here’s why I think you should play Ullmark. What do you think Hardy?
Hardy: I think you should go with Swayman.
Fred Toucher: Okay, I’ll tell you why I think you should play Ullmark. It’s a short turnaround. If you’re going to play Ullmark, you got to play him. I think if you’re going to play Ullmark at all, you got to play him in game one.
Jon Wallach: Why can’t you play him in game two?
Fred Toucher: Because then it sends it back into chaos. Then you’re saying if Swayman plays badly, you put him back in. There’s such a short turnaround, and if you do have two goalies, this is the game to play Ullmark. It’s a bonus that he plays well against Florida. You play him in game one. If he plays great that’s awesome. Congratulations. Swayman still plays game two.
Jon Wallach: I don’t like that.
Fred Toucher: Why? If you play Ullmark and he plays well, you go, okay, great. You played your game, then you play Swayman, and then you see what you do from there.
Jon Wallach: Swayman is the epitome of a hot goaltender. He is unbelievably good right now. Why wreck that?
Fred Toucher: Do you think it wrecks it if he gets a night off?
Jon Wallach: Yes. You sit him down and then what if he comes back and doesn’t play well in game two because you sat him down?
Fred Toucher: I mean, the idea is that you give him a some rest.
Jon Wallach: I disagree, you’re playing every other night. Every third night. It’s nothing different than the regular season.
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Bruins will have three more unrestricted free agents in 2024
Sep 24, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Reilly Walsh (92) skates in the neutral zone during the third period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
On the backend, defenseman Reilly Walsh is staring down a potential jump into unrestricted free agency following a season that featured nine goals and 28 points in 60 games for AHL Providence. Walsh’s 28 points were tops among all P-Bruins defensemen, but his minus-17 rating was the worst on the team.
A native of North Falmouth, Mass., Walsh was acquired in a one-for-one trade with the Devils, with minor-league forward Shane Bowers sent New Jersey’s way in the deal.
The 25-year-old Walsh has posted 32 goals and 127 points in 234 career AHL games.
Sep 26, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Kyle Keyser (85) gets a drink during a stoppage in play against the Buffalo Sabres in the second period at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports)
In goal, meanwhile, Kyle Keyser’s time with the Bruins is almost certainly coming to an end given his Group 6 status, his rough year in the minors, and the Bruins’ recent other moves in goal.
Called into action for five games with Providence this year, the 25-year-old Keyser posted a 1-2-2 record, along with a 3.45 goals against average and an .873 save percentage. It wasn’t much better down in ECHL Maine, either, with a 5-8-2 record and .868 save percentage in 16 appearances for the Mariners.
As noted, the Bruins have already made a move for the future in goal, with Notre Dame’s Ryan Bischel signed to a contract following a strong career with the Fighting Irish, and it’s also possible that 2022 sixth-round pick Reid Dyck jumps into the pro ranks after a strong season with WHL Swift Current.
The Bruins have also already re-upped AHL netminder Michael DiPietro on a one-year deal, too.
