Bruins trade Linus Ullmark to Senators for package that includes a first-round pick

The Bruins sent Ullmark to the Senators and received a nifty haul in return for the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Boston landed a first-round pick (No. 25 overall) in Friday’s draft, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, and forward Mark Kastelic.

As part of the transaction, Ottawa will retain 25 percent of the $4 million salary Korpisalo is owed for the next four seasons.

It’s unclear what the plans are for Korpisalo. He could back up Swayman, or he could be flipped this week in Las Vegas when more deals are expected.

Boston signed Brandon Bussi, who was thought to be in line to be Swayman’s backup, to a salary-cap-friendly one-year, two-way contract Monday. His cap hit is just $775,000.

The Bruins declined to comment on the deal, preferring to let general manager Don Sweeney address it Thursday prior to the draft.

The GM did issue a statement thanking Ullmark and his family for their time in Boston.

“The Boston Bruins would like to thank Linus, Moa, Harry and Lily for all their contributions to the Bruins’ family. Linus is a Vezina winning goalie who was a star on and off the ice,” Sweeney said. “We want to wish Linus and his family much success and happiness as he continues his career in Ottawa.”

The Bruins had myriad talks about dealing Ullmark at the trade deadline but were unable to strike a deal, partly because Ullmark invoked his partial (six-team) no-trade clause.

Coincidentally, the Bruins are getting back the draft pick they originally sent to Detroit in the Tyler Bertuzzi acquisition at the 2023 trade deadline. The Red Wings subsequently sent that selection to Ottawa to acquire forward Alex DeBrincat.

It’s unclear whether the Senators have a new deal in place for the 30-year-old Ullmark, who is entering the final season of a four-year, $20 million deal, though judging by the assets they part with, particularly the high draft pick, it seems likely.

Ullmark is just a year removed from winning the Vezina as the league’s top goalie after his memorable 2022-23 campaign in which he led the NHL in wins (40), goals-against average (1.89), and save percentage (.938).

He followed that up with a 22-win season as he split time nearly evenly with Swayman, who won 25 games.

However, Swayman took control of the crease in the postseason. After the close friends split the first two games, Swayman started the next 11 games. He finished 6-6 as the Panthers knocked the Bruins out for the second straight season.

Though he clearly sensed his future likely would be in a new sweater, Ullmark put on a brave face as he fielded questions following the Bruins’ ouster in the second round of the playoffs.

“My future here? I’ve got one more year. I’m very excited about what’s to come. We’re in for a heck of a summer,” he said. “I’m very motivated, mixed in with some revenge, obviously some inspiration this fall, but most of all, excitement of what’s to come. Obviously, everybody thinks about, for me personally, that it was a year that wasn’t as good as it was prior. For me though, it’s all about personal growth, and I learned a lot about myself and different aspects of the game and also how I am as a human being.”

Following the season, Sweeney said “in a perfect world” he would keep the league’s best netminding tandem intact, but financially it was a near impossibility given that Swayman is in line for a new contract that will likely pay him at least $8 million per annum.

Korpisalo was Ottawa’s No. 1 goalie this past season, posting a 21-26-4 record with a 3.27 GAA and a .890 save percentage.

For his nine-year career, the 30-year-old Finn is 115-107-29 with a 3.06 GAA and .901 save percentage.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 226-pound Kastelic is a rugged, defensive-minded center who plays with snarl and projects as a bottom-six contributor. In 144 career games, the 25-year-old Kastelic, a fifth-round pick in 2019, has 14 goals, 25 points, and 179 PIMs.

Kastelic will earn a $835,000 salary in 2024-25 before becoming a restricted free agent.

Getting back into the first round was a bit of a coup for the Bruins, who, because of deadline deals, haven’t had a pick in the opening round since 2021, when they selected forward Fabian Lysell at No. 21 overall.

Boston’s last four first-round picks include Johnny Beecher (2019), Urho Vaakanainen (2017), Charlie McAvoy (2016), and Trent Frederic (2016).

Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.