During his after the season media availability Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark said he’d love to “run it back” with fellow goalie Jeremy Swayman next season. On Wednesday’s Felger and Mazz, Felger let it be known that he doesn’t want the Bruins to “run it back” the way they did it with the goalies in the 2022-23 season.

• Audio

• Felger doesn't want to "run in back" in 23-24

  Felger: Do you want those two goaltenders back as it was this year?

  Mazz: No. No, I don’t. I think that they need to move one of those goalies and not because of the platoon or anything else, I think that they need to use one of them as a chip to get something that they need because they’re going to lose some pieces. So they clearly went all in on this team, they don’t have a lot of draft collateral based on what they spent, not that you’d expect immediate impact from your draft picks anyway. But you don’t have money to spend on the free agent market so you’re going to have to find ways to improve your team. I would move one of the goalies.

  Felger: Okay, so you’re moving one of the goalies because you can get help elsewhere?

  Mazz: Yes.

  Felger: Let’s say there was no cap. You know, Swayman is a restricted free agent, he’s going to make some money. So between them, they’re going to be probably $10 million next year. Let’s say there were no cap and your owner had no monetary restrictions, would you want to run back Swayman and Ullmark as the goalie tandem next year?

  Mazz: I mean, look, if there’s no cap you could do worse. But I don’t have all that much confidence in either one of those guys in the playoffs. I suppose Swayman more than Ullmark I guess at this stage.

  Jim Murray: They’re both very, very good. If the cap wasn’t an issue, then yes, because what do we know about this Bussi kid? Nothing

  Felger: I’m NO!

  Jim Murray: Even if there was no cap?

  Felger: Right! I don’t want to run back Ullmark-Swaymn. I don’t. And I don’t know, no I do know, this is what I’m arriving at….I don’t want to run back a strickt golaie platoon. I don’t want to have a 1 and 1a. I think it’s too hard to navigate. They’ve had it. They’ve had it for two years. What’s it gotten them? It’s gotten them nothing but lousy goaltending each of the last two playoffs where Ullmark’s benched and then Swayman comes in and isn’t quite ready. This the last two years has sort of driven home to me that I don’t love the model. I’d rather have a guy. Give me a guy. And I understand the way that the games are divvied out the regular season no one hardly plays 70 games anymore. Like that doesn’t exist. I understand that. But what I want is a clearly defined 1 and a cheap 2 that fills in in the regular season. And when it comes to the postseason it’s my guy and he knows it and while he’s not playing 70 games, he’s properly stretched out. So he’s played a lot of games in a row, he’s gotten enough work that he can handle the workload and it’s all defined, and that’s what I want.

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  Apr 28, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) scores a goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) in the first period in game six of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

• Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!

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