The Boston Bruins traded Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators on June 24, 2024. A yr earlier than this deal, Ullmark was awarded the Vezina Trophy because the NHL’s finest goaltender, turning into solely the sixth Bruins netminder to win the celebrated award. After this latest commerce, Ullmark grew to become the fifth goalie to win the prize and be dealt away.

As we speak, we’ll take a look at the Bruins’ historical past relating to Vezina Trophy winners and the way just one goalie, Tuukka Rask, managed to flee the pitfalls of so many who got here earlier than and after him.

The Unique Two

The Vezina Trophy was first awarded in 1926-27 to George Hainsworth of the Montreal Canadiens. Three seasons later, Tiny Thompson grew to become Boston’s first winner in 1929-30. He would win the award three extra instances in 1933, 1936, and 1938, finally surpassing Hainsworth for many victories (on the time) along with his fourth win. Nevertheless, after Thompson’s 1938 Vezina victory, the Bruins traded him to the Detroit Crimson Wings on Nov. 28, 1938, for money and Normie Smith, ending his run because the workforce’s prime goalie for 11 seasons.

However, Boston had a famous person goalie ready for his probability, Frank Brimsek, who stored the Vezina Trophy with the membership along with his first win in 1938-39. On prime of profitable the Calder Trophy that season, he would assist the Bruins win the Stanley Cup. Three seasons later, Brimsek would seize his second Vezina Trophy in 1942, marking the final win earlier than the Unique Six period began. Regardless of 9 seasons because the workforce’s prime netminder and profitable two Stanley Cup titles, the Bruins traded him on Sept. 8, 1949, to the Chicago Blackhawks for money, thus turning into the second Vezina Trophy winner to be dealt away by the membership.

Submit-Growth Period Winners

The NHL expanded from six groups to 12 in 1967. Since then, solely 4 Boston netminders have gained the Vezina Trophy, with Pete Peeters turning into the primary in 1982-83. That season was Peeters’ first season with the Bruins, and regardless of coming inside a sport of tying an NHL report for the longest undefeated streak by a goalie that yr, held by Boston icon Gerry Cheevers, the workforce would finally commerce him to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 14, 1985, for Pat Riggin.

Virtually three many years later, Tim Thomas would break the Bruins’ prolonged drought with no Vezina Trophy, profitable the award in 2008-09 and once more in 2010-11. Not solely would Thomas lead Boston to their first Stanley Cup title in 39 years in 2011, however he would additionally turn out to be the second participant in workforce historical past, in addition to Bobby Orr, to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Sadly, that 2011 season was the height of Thomas’ profession as he skipped the annual White Home go to in 2012, the Bruins misplaced within the first spherical, and he by no means dressed for the workforce once more. Ultimately, he was dealt to the New York Islanders on Feb. 7, 2013, for future concerns.

His accomplice on the time was Rask, who ascended to the starter’s function as soon as Thomas was gone. In addition to turning into the franchise’s win chief, he additionally gained the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14 and the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2019-20. Not like each different title on this record, Rask performed his total profession with the Bruins, dressing in 543 video games over 15 seasons.

Associated: Bruins 2023-24 Participant Grades: Linus Ullmark

Lastly, the latest Bruins netminder to win the Vezina Trophy is Ullmark, who helped Boston safe the NHL report for wins (65) and factors (135) within the common season. Just one calendar yr after profitable the league’s prime goalie award, the workforce traded him to the Senators for a first-round choose in 2024, together with Mark Kastelic and Joonas Korpisalo on June 24, 2024.

Historic Perspective

As talked about, six Boston netminders have gained the Vezina Trophy, and 5 have been finally traded after their wins. Just one goalie has managed to be named the league’s finest goalie and survive being dealt away, and that’s Rask, arguably one of the best goalie in franchise historical past.

Getting traded is part of the sport, and even Corridor of Famers like Orr, Phil Esposito, and Ray Bourque didn’t end their careers in black and gold. Nevertheless, one thing stands out concerning the Vezina Trophy winners and Boston’s historical past of dealing them away inside a short while body of their final win. Even when Jeremy Swayman indicators a prolonged extension this summer time, primarily based on workforce historical past, he might wish to keep away from the Vezina Trophy because it seems to be a foul omen to any Boston netminder who wins it.