By: Gayle Troiani | Follow me on Twitter @LadyBruinsFan and Jim Swindells | Follow me on Twitter @jimswindells68
It’s a simple question the Bruins fans often debate: Should the Bruins name a number one goalie before the start of the 2022-23 season, or should they continue riding both Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman? Our Black and Gold Hockey writers drop the gloves and go head to head this week.
GAYLE TROIANI: While I love the bromance between Ullmark and Swayman, I think it’s time the Bruins put their faith in Swayman and give the young goalie the starting job. It should be his net to lose.
JIM SWINDELLS: At some point during the season, there’s going to be that point where, hopefully, the Bruins have this figured out. The fans clearly want Swayman, as there’s an inherent bias that Ullmark isn’t the guy. I don’t think either one has defined themselves as the clear-cut #1 or #2. There’s time to fine-tune it.
TROIANI: I’m not sure all the fans want Swayman. To be honest, I was one of those fans, and up until the playoffs last year, I thought Ullmark should be the starter. With that said, the future of the Bruins is Swayman; Ullmark should be the backup. No reason to have them play 41 games a piece again. We’re entering Swayman’s third season, time to see what he’s made of.
SWINDELLS: The starter’s role should be decided by play in net and not by the anointing of Swayman because it’s his time. In a previous article, I stated there are positive pieces around Swayman/Ullmark to accelerate their growth. While the situation isn’t the same in Boston, I don’t have the desire to see this turn into the problem in Philly. The eternal search for that #1.
TROIANI: It doesn’t have to be the eternal search like Philly. Boston has two capable goalies that can take on the role, and honestly, I have to wonder if it will mess with their psyche in the long run.
SWINDELLS: The Bruins have little that resembles the issues in Philly. So it’s likely not to happen. The shared workload ultimately brings the best out of Swayman/Ullmark. Competition is a great thing. It grows their confidence, and the Bruins have much to gain. The hope is that Swayman is the future. I believe that the Bruins have a significant problem resting in their hands.
TROIANI: Sharing the workload can continue to build competition between the two netminders, but what about riding the hot hand? Wouldn’t it make more sense to play the goalie on a winning streak and in the proverbial groove than to break it up, just to even the workload?
SWINDELLS: In terms of the hot hand, that’s territory likely reserved for season’s end. Somewhere around the quarter pole mark is how the playoff starter will likely be determined. At this point, that’s the hand they’re playing. Whoever has the hot hand gets the nod in the playoffs, and IF the playoff starter delivers a level of success in the playoffs, then moving into next season, that’s where your #1 takes control of 60ish percent of the starts. A shared workload is not ideal over the long haul, but it needs to be in place until one’s play overshadows the other.
And there you have it. Not sure which of us won this battle. What do you think, Bruins fans? Let us know!
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