Bruins Add Goalie Depth And Leadership Signing Ullmark And Foligno

After signing defenseman Derek Forbort, and forwards Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek, the Boston Bruins continued adding to their roster and also got active on the NHL trade market.

Late Wednesday afternoon, news broke that the Boston Bruins signed veteran forward Nick Foligno to a two-year contract that carries an annual $3.8 million salary cap hit, and goalie Linus Ullmark to a five-year contract that carries a $4 million cap hit.

The Boston Bruins also traded goalie Dan Vladar to the Calgary Flames for a third round pick at the 2022 NHL Draft.

Per our friends at Puckpedia, after signing Foligno, Ullmark, Forbort (three years, $9 million), Haula (two years, $4.75 million) and Nosek (two years, $3.5 million), and then trading Vladar ($750,000), the Boston Bruins now have $1.6 million left in cap space.

With Foligno & Ullmark added, #NHLBruins have $1.6M Cap Space with a full 23 players on projected roster (13F/8D/2G).https://t.co/2o0hsHzUIy pic.twitter.com/ciSgWkHMpx

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 28, 2021

Since being drafted by the Ottawa Senators 28th overall at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Foligno, 33, has become one of the most respected leaders in the NHL. After five seasons with the Senators, Foligno signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to the lockout-shortened 2013 season. From there, the solid two-way player not only became a better leader but also became a consistent offensive presence. Two seasons into his tenure in Columbus, Foligno had a career-best 31 goals and 73 points and in April 2015, Foligno was named captain of the Blue Jackets.

With Foligno wearing the ‘C’, the Blue Jackets made the Stanley Cup playoffs four straight seasons (2016-17 to 2019-20) and was a big part of the team that lost to the Boston Bruins in six games in the second round of the Bruins’ 2019 run to the Stanley Cup playoffs. In a shocking move this past season, the Blue Jackets traded their captain to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a first round pick in the recently completed 2021 NHL Entry Draft and a 2022 fourth round pick. Foligno had seven goals and nine assists in 42 games with the Blue Jackets and had four assists in seven games with the Leafs. He added one assist in four playoff games with the Leafs in their seven-game, first round loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

In a Zoom call with the media early Wednesday evening, Foligno told the media that a recruiting call from Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron helped seal the deal to come to Boston.

“They’re a team I’ve admired from afar. Their culture, their structure. ..that, topped with the conversation that I had with Bergy … that excites you as a player,” he said.

Ullmark, started 20 games for the Sabres last season. He was 9-6-3 record with a .917 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound has 117 career NHL games on his resume; all with the Sabres. He has a career record of 50-47-13 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average. He was drafted in the sixth round (163rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Ullmark told the media that from the beginning of his conversations with the Bruins, it just felt right for him to wear the Spoked B.

“Ever since we started the whole process, it felt right,” the new Bruins goalie said. “When Boston came knocking on our door…the longer the day went, it just felt better and better. Very excited about what’s to come.”

The Bruins also announced the signings of goaltender Troy Grosenick to a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL cap hit of $750,00; forward Samuel Asselin to a two-year, entry-level contract with an annual NHL cap hit of $750,000; forward Steven Fogartyto a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL cap hit of $750,000, and defenseman Tyler Lewington to a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL cap hit of $750,000