The Boston Bruins have signed goalie Linus Ullmark to a four-year contract worth $5 million per season.

Raise your hand if you thought Ullmark would receive the second-highest goalie contract this offseason (behind Philipp Grubauer with Seattle, which is a surprise of its own). Ullmark just received a $20 million contract. That amount and term is not just for Ullmark to be a stopgap option while Tuukka Rask is injured (and still unsigned). Or the backup after Rask is re-signed (if he is in fact re-signed). The Bruins are investing starter's money in Ullmark. If you need a comparable contract, Thatcher Demko was recently signed for the same cap hit and just one more year of term.

Once that sinks in, here's what it means. First, Ullmark's value receives a massive increase. Remember what going from Buffalo to Boston did for Taylor Hall's career? Okay, so you're not "that" bullish on Hall. Yet goalie values are very much tied to the team. If you consider the team that Ullmark has played for, a 2.63 GAA and .917 SV% isn't bad. His 0.27 GSAA/60 (goals-saved above average) was comparable to Ilya Sorokin, Igor Shesterkin, and Elvis Merzlikins – goalies who are more valued in fantasy leagues. Plus more wins. Potentially, a lot more wins. And better ratios from playing in front of a better defense.

Jeremy Swayman was outstanding in his limited action with the Bruins (7-3-0, 1.50 GAA, .945 SV%). Yet at age 22, Swayman probably shouldn't be trusted for the starting goalie job – yet. He could push Ullmark for starts to start the season, but his value wouldn't be affected so much had the Ullmark contract been lesser in both term and cap hit. So Ullmark will be given the longer rope to start.

Finally, Tuukka Rask is both unsigned and sidelined until at least the new year due to hip surgery. Bruins GM Don Sweeney has indicated that "the door remains open" for Rask to return. Even though Rask has indicated he would like to sign with no one other than the Bruins, he could remain a free agent for a while. Before the season, rumor was that he would retire after his contract with the Bruins expired. With so many names coming off the board on July 28, Rask could remain one of the most intriguing unsigned players – if he is able and willing to return at all.

Even if Rask returns to the Bruins, Ullmark should receive at minimum the amount of work that Jaroslav Halak had as the 1B/backup during his time in Boston. Now that Rask is 34, his workload could decline even further than that.

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Players this helps, in order:

Ullmark

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Players this hurts, in order:

Swayman

Rask

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Fantasy owners are discussing this signing in the Forum – give your take here!