An idea has been brought up by Nick Kypreos that both Thatcher Demko and Jeremy Swayman could be made available at the trade deadline, and we’re here today to see if there’s any truth or logic behind that. Both teams are in weird spots as cap is needed to be shed, but moving on from the present or the future might not be the best move.
While the Boston Bruins have two goalies to decide between, the Vancouver Canucks have just one. Neither team wants to rebuild, but it also isn’t realistic that either of them will finish at the top of the league after big changes are set to come. The 2023 NHL Entry Draft is the next big place that will see trades go down as high draft picks will be in play. There is certainly a market out there for goaltenders as a goalie carousel is likely to go down, but these two names involved? Maybe.
Thatcher Demko
The Canucks have been a middle of the pack team for a number of years now as they rushed the rebuild and made some bad trades. They have been put in a bad spot where it is very tough to fix what has been done without a full teardown. Since ownership still doesn’t want a rebuild, trading their number one goalie after half a bad season is not the answer.
The team thought they had some answers in their system with Spencer Martin, Michael DiPietro, and Arturs Silovs. While there’s still hope for Silovs, he’s still young and might not even be on the team next season. The Canucks would give up on Demko after a bad start in which he made up for upon his return from injury. Looking at how the team performed overall, the blame can’t be solely placed on Demko for that horrible start either. The draft would be the place to make a big trade if the Canucks are hoping for a first rounder in return, but it just doesn’t make sense.
Jeremy Swayman
A Swayman trade makes more sense than Demko, but that’s because the Bruins have Linus Ullmark, a Vezina Trophy finalist this season already locked in for two more years, and Brandon Bussi, who the organization thinks highly of, coming soon. The Bruins are in real cap trouble that they need to fix this offseason and moving Ullmark’s $5 million AAV would make more sense than moving Swayman if they are forced to make a decision in net.
Related: 4 Bruins 2023 Offseason Cap Dump Options
Swayman is an RFA and without a contract yet, but he isn’t expected to get $5 million. He has proven he can start and handle himself just fine in net. As he’s five years younger and the Bruins will have to go through a small transition period for at least next season, it makes sense to take advantage of an incredible season by Ullmark when his trade value is the highest it will ever be. Maybe the Bruins will try to move forward with Ullmark and Bussi or another backup on a one-year deal next season, but I don’t see them giving up on Swayman with where their team is headed.
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