LINUS ULLMARK, BOSTON BRUINS

e Bruins were in a tough spot. With key players like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand moving out of their prime, the team is in win-now mode. Unfortunately, Tuukka Rask – the premier goalie in franchise history and the one who gives them the best chance this season – is sidelined for months by offseason hip surgery and ultimately may be forced to retire. Rookie Jeremy Swayman impressed during a limited audition last season, but the team needed some experienced insurance to stabilize the position. Enter Ullmark on a four-year, $20 million contract that suggests he'll have a chance to do more than just hold down the fort. Ullmark has been solid over the past two seasons in Buffalo, going 26-20-6 while posting a 2.67 GAA and a .916 save percentage. ose are solid numbers, especially considering the Sabres finished 25th and 31st overall in that stretch. Dig deeper and his numbers hint at even better things to come. Of the 51 goalies with at least 800 minutes of 5-on-5 play this past season, Ullmark finished fourth with a .937 save percentage and a 9.13 goals saved above average, according to Evolving-Hockey. at data suggests he outperformed expectations on a very bad team. Put him behind a Boston defense that excels at limiting scoring chances and he could put up even better numbers.. Of course, the 28-year-old will need to prove he can thrive in an environment where winning is expected. Rinsing off the stink of those losing seasons in Buffalo isn't a sure thing. But coach Bruce Cassidy seems excited about his new No. 1 “He played well in Buffalo against us,” he said. “We feel he has a lot to give. He's just entering his prime.” Ullmark's hobby fortunes have been hamstrung by the ineptitude of the Sabres, so his 11 2015-16 RCs remain surprisingly affordable. His Upper Deck Young Guns (#472) can be had for a few bucks and has scarcely been touched by graders. Just 21 copies have been slabbed by BGS, yielding 15 Gem Mint 9.5s and one Pristine 10. PSA has handled 18, with 15 coming back with Gem Mint 10s. Meanwhile, his RPA from e Cup (#117) has a print run of 249 making it relatively easy to track down. Only three of those have been slabbed, creating a seller's market. His SP Game Used (#199) might be the one to watch. e card is limited to just 35 copies, matching his jersey number in both Buffalo and Boston, and is brutally tough to find in any form on the secondary market.