The Ottawa Senators will forge ahead without Linus Ullmark. Read MoreTo say the Ottawa Senators are being tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Linus Ullmark’s abrupt departure from the club would be an understatement
To say the Ottawa Senators are being tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Linus Ullmark’s abrupt departure from the club would be an understatement
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The Ottawa Senators will forge ahead without Linus Ullmark.
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They don’t have any other choice after the Senators announced on Sunday that the club’s top goaltender has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team to deal with a personal matter.
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The Ottawa Citizen has been told the Senators have no idea when the 32-year-old Ullmark will return, and coach Travis Green gave backup Leevi Merilainen the start on Monday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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To say the Senators are being tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Ullmark’s abrupt departure from the club would be an understatement.
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“I don’t know much,” said captain Brady Tkachuk before the Senators faced the Jackets. “Just got to respect everything that is going on. Whenever you have a teammate going through something like that, he knows that our whole team and our whole organization are backing him.
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“For us as teammates, we’ll always be there for him with whatever he is going through; he knows we’re always there. He’s a big part of our team on the ice and off the ice.”
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The club recalled Hunter Shepard from its American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville on Monday to dress as the backup against the Jackets, but the expectation is that Mads Sogaard will be brought up for the visit by the Washington Capitals on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m.
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Pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in a 7-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, Ullmark looked completely out of sorts during his brief appearance in the club’s net. He had no idea where the puck was on the third goal by the Leafs, and that’s not him.
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Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark taking personal leave
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This has been a difficult season for Ullmark. He was named the National Hockey League’s second star of the week for his performance heading into the holiday break, and then was pulled in Toronto.
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Not only does his departure leave the Senators in a difficult position, but officials with Team Sweden are also closely monitoring the situation. The final rosters for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games must be submitted by Dec. 31, and Ullmark was on the club’s radar.
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This has been a difficult season for Ullmark. He started 28 of the club’s first 37 games, and has posted a 2.95 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage.