The Boston Bruins arguably have the best goaltending tandem in the league with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. The pair took home the William M. Jennings Trophy last season, while Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy. As a result, both goalies are certainly worth considering in your fantasy hockey draft. Yet, which one is the better choice for your fantasy hockey team? Let’s go over the reasons that help each of their cases now.
Ullmark vs. Swayman In 2023 Fantasy Hockey
The Case for Ullmark
As noted above, Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy last season. However, that truly does not tell the whole story. Ullmark’s regular season was one that will be remembered for a long time, and the truth is in his stats. In 49 games played, the 30-year-old had a remarkable 40-6-1 record, a 1.89 GAA, and a .938 SV%. These are numbers you simply don’t see.
Ullmark showed last season that he can be a significant game-changer and one of the NHL’s top goalies. After a stupendous campaign like this, he naturally warrants real consideration for your fantasy team. This is especially so once you see other big-name goaltenders like Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin off the board.
The Case for Swayman
Although Swayman did not reach Ullmark levels last season, he still was excellent in 2022-23. In 37 appearances, he had a 24-6-4 record, a 2.27 GAA, and a .920 SV%. It was another great season for the Alaska native, and he is continuing to improve. When noting that he is already a very good goalie and has immense potential, he is also worth serious consideration for your fantasy hockey team.
Swayman has shown time and time again that he is already a quality starting netminder. However, if the three-year veteran can take another step forward in 2023-24, he could be a complete steal for your fantasy hockey roster. Even with a William M. Jennings Trophy now on his resume, he is still fairly underrated and may be glossed over because of Ullmark’s excellent 2022-23. That ought to change if so.
Lastly, there is a real possibility that Ullmark will cool off this upcoming season. He never had a season anywhere as good as his 2022-23 campaign in his career before it. Meanwhile, in Swayman’s short career, he has a .920 SV% and a 2.24 GAA in 88 total games. Those are very similar to this past season’s totals, so it is clear that Swayman is quite consistent. Thus, with his high potential and consistency, he surely is an appealing target for your fantasy hockey team.
Both Bruins Goalies Are Worth Selecting
At the end of the day, having either Ullmark or Swayman on your fantasy team has the potential to be excellent. Even if Ullmark does not replicate last year’s historic season, he is still a quality starter and game-changer. Meanwhile, Swayman is a very good goalie who seems to be getting better with more experience.
In the end, when it comes to these two, it simply comes down to your preference. If you feel that Ullmark can continue to be the NHL’s top goalie in 2023-24, certainly take a chance on him. Yet, if you are impressed by Swayman’s stuff and room for growth, he may be your guy. It will be a lot of fun seeing how this top-of-the-line duo does in 2023-24 from here.
Looking for more great fantasy hockey analysis? Check out our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Draft Kit for team previews, rankings, and all the sleepers you can shake a stick at.