While the arbitration process requires players to come in with an ask much higher than the team, the numbers being submitted by the Buffalo Sabres versus the numbers being submitted by goaltender Linus Ullmark are quite different. It could speak to potential difficulties getting the netminder signed before the arbitration hearing.
According to a breaking news report from NHL insider and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Buffalo has submitted a $1.8 million figure and Ullmark’s side has come in at $4.1 million.
What’s interesting about these numbers, isn’t just that they are so far apart, but that Ullmark’s asking price comes in just below the walkaway threshold of $4,538,938. That means, if this goes to a hearing and an award is granted that the Sabres don’t like, they can’t walk away from it if the player accepts.
That said, it isn’t expected an award would come close to Ullmark’s ask. The goalie had a relatively strong season, posting a 2.69 GAA and a .915 SV% which was a considerable improvement on his numbers in 2018-19 (3.11, .905) but he split games with Carter Hutton and only has 97 games under his belt in the NHL over the course of five seasons.
Ullmark on a Multi-Year Deal?
Something new GM Kevyn Adams might want to consider is that a one-year deal with Ullmark would bring the goaltender to unrestricted free agency and that could leave the Sabres with no goaltenders locked in past next season. He might wan to try and get Ullmark signed to a deal longer than one year so he has at least one backstop committed beyond next season.
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