This morning, Elliotte Friedman of Sportnet announced Linus Ullmark and Buffalo Sabres’ respective arbitration filing numbers via Twitter. As is typically the case, the player and team had very different identified values in mind as they approach their arbitration hearing date of October 26.
Arbitration filing for Linus Ullmark (BUF): team is $1.8M; player is $4.1M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 24, 2020
In all likelihood, the arbitrator will rule somewhere in between these two figures. RFA netminders have done pretty well so far this offseason. Matt Murray inked a brand new, four-year, $6.25 million AAV deal with the Ottawa Senators, and Alexander Georgiev signed a two-year, $2.425 million extension with the New York Rangers.
Due to his current status as the undisputed starter in Buffalo, and the fact that the Sabres struggled mightily when he went down with an injury in the middle of the season, the expectation is that Ullmark’s ruling will land somewhere near $3 million dollars. Fortunately for the 27-year-old is familiar with the arbitration process.
Last summer, he went through the same process, where he was awarded a one-year, $1.325 million contract. Leading up to the hearing, Ullmark’s reported ask was $2.65 million. The Sabres filed at $800,000, which is a very similar numerical gap to the one that was announced today.
We’ll see how this one shakes out, but without a viable starting option ahead of him, Ullmark should see a very significant raise from last season.