Boston Bruins goaltender and reigning Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark has been the subject of trade rumours ahead of Friday’s deadline and those rumours hit a fever pitch on Monday during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bruins started Jeremy Swayman in net against the Leafs but Ullmark was absent from the Boston bench during the first period. His absence was quickly noticed by media and others watching the game, leading many to speculate that a big trade was about to go down.
But, it turns out, that wasn’t the case.
Instead, Ullmark said he was just watching the game from the dressing room because he felt cramped on the bench at Scotiabank Arena.
“I’ve sat on the bench before,” Ullmark told Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic. “It has been a tight squeeze.”
Ullmark said he had no idea his decision ignited a small social media wave of rumours until he was told by a member of the Bruins’ communications team.
“I had a good laugh,” Ullmark said. “Obviously, it was easy to have a good laugh when we’re winning as well in Toronto. For me, it was like, ‘What am I going to do?’ It was just a surreal thing that happened. You just take it with a smile on my face. (There’s) nothing I can do about it. Everybody can speculate as much as they want.”