Ottawa — Historically, the Ottawa Senators have not been known for their top-tier goaltending.
Linus Ullmark might be the player to change that narrative.
Acquiring a recent Vezina Trophy winner at his peak and then quickly securing a contract extension is an unusual move, yet this is precisely how the Ottawa Senators found their potential savior in goal.
Just before Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Senators traded for Ullmark from the Boston Bruins, sending Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a first-round draft pick in return.
“Honestly,” Ullmark admitted, “whenever you`re traded, there`s an initial feeling of disappointment. You question if you weren`t good enough, if the team felt they needed a better option.”
However, after the initial shock, Ullmark’s outlook became more optimistic.
“When a trade happens, you tend to focus on what your former team thought of you, rather than considering that another team actually wanted you,” he explained.
“There are always two sides to it. You start to realize, ‘Maybe this isn`t as bad as it first seemed.’ Then, after a day or two, you think, ‘Actually, this is quite exciting.’ And eventually, you understand, ‘This is a really positive change.’”
Still, a significant question for the Swedish goalie was whether Ottawa could become a long-term home for him. At 31 years old with only one year left on his contract at the time of the trade, Ullmark was uncertain about moving to a Canadian market and how his wife, Moa, and their two children, Harry and Lily, would adapt to a new environment.
“I didn’t want to be traded, sign a new contract, and still be unsure of what I was getting into,” Ullmark stated.
“You never know if a change will be for the better, or if it will be worse. Was I making the right choice? We didn`t want to rush into anything.”
Tristan Blackwood