Linus Ullmark went from being a franchise icon whose save percentage had never dipped below .900 before this season to a polarizing figure whose recent performances have dealt a severe blow to the Ottawa Senators’ ability to remain competitive.
As the Senators fight tooth and nail to hold on to the wild-card berth, rumors have surfaced that the Senators were at one point exploring the market for a goaltender.
Why the Ottawa Senators Reportedly Explored the Goalie Market Earlier This Season
The 223-pound, 6-foot-4 goalie is widely regarded as one of the league’s best. However, lately he has been a shell of his former self: the veteran goalie’s .688 save percentage against the Florida Panthers took everyone by surprise.
After a phenomenal showing against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ullmark did not show up against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a much-needed break, the 32-year-old took his position in front of the net against the Panthers, only to give up two goals less than two minutes into the game and a total of five goals in the first period. Consequently, Ullmark was pulled, but the Sens still lost 6-3.
No matter how one sees it, Ullmark has significantly hurt the Senators’ playoff odds. Could Ottawa benefit from a change of netminder? As David Pagnotta has recently clarified, the front office was poking around the goalie market for more options at one point.
“There was a ton of speculation surrounding Linus Ullmark and all that nonsense earlier on in the season, but prior to that, there was some chatter the Senators…was exploring the trade market on the goaltender; they were exploring options.”
When rumors of a potential rift between the franchise and the goalie surfaced in January, after Ullmark took a leave of absence due to personal reasons, the Senators’ management came down harshly on those looking for signs of tension between the Sens and the veteran goalie. Consequently, it became clear that the Ullmark-Senators partnership had not run its course.
The timing here becomes important; as Pagnotta put it, the Senators’ interest in a new goaltender preceded the Ullmark fiasco in January, and when social media became rife with endless rumors, Ottawa decided to come out in Ullmark’s support, making it evident that the camaraderie in the Senators’ locker room runs deep.
Even as the 32-year-old netminder adversely impacted the Senators’ odds of winning against the Panthers, head coach Travis Green refused to pin the blame on him. Green held the team as a whole responsible, maintaining that many did not play as well as they should have.
The Senators’ mere search for goalie options at one point does not signal a decline in the franchise’s faith in Ullmark. Despite his mental health struggles, which are bound to take a toll on his performance, Ullmark remains a towering presence in the NHL and one of the most sought-after goaltenders right now.
