Will Linus Ullmark Save The Ottawa Senators?

Because the NHL returned to Canada’s capital on Oct. 8, 1992, the Ottawa Senators have at all times gave the impression to be getting ready to changing into a high-caliber hockey membership.

A easy query separates the Sens from becoming a member of the massive boys of the Atlantic Division within the high half of the league: When will the rebuild be over?

Relationship again to the Sens’ debut 1992-93 season – the place a document of 10 wins in 84 video games was horrible sufficient to safe them the No. 1 draft choose which was the then-promising Alexandre Daigle – the tradition in Ottawa has at all times been “subsequent 12 months might be our 12 months.”

Spoiler alert: It hasn’t been the Sens’ 12 months for a very long time.

The final time we noticed the Sens on the high of the heap was throughout the golden years of Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza. Led by an ultra-talented high line from round 2003 to 2013, the Sens had been constantly aggressive and commonly made the playoffs.

This all culminated in 2007 with Ottawa’s first and solely look within the Stanley Cup finals. The Senators knocked off Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Buffalo within the first three rounds of the post-season, however they had been no match for Anaheim’s spectacular depth within the Cup remaining.

So how can the Sens climb again to the highest after such a long-lasting fall from grace?

Ottawa has the third-worst playoff drought within the NHL, failing to make the playoffs for seven consecutive years. The Senators had been imagined to make the transition into playoff contenders final season, however points throughout the board triggered the crew to plunge to twenty sixth general within the remaining standings. Dropping Alex DeBrincat for pennies on the greenback, Tim Stutzle failing to satisfy expectations and sloppy goaltending all contributed to the Sens’ early summer time final 12 months.

Main as much as the 2024-25 season, Sens followers had been drained. Uninterested in shedding with a proficient roster, sure, however extra uninterested in the doomed-from-the-start tradition in Ottawa. The Senators wanted a celebrity to rally round after they win and a refreshingly down-to-earth optimist after they lose.

Enter Linus Ullmark.

This fashionable, mustache-toting, goalie-hugging, all-around good man is the sunshine on the finish of Ottawa’s tunnel. Ullmark has a Vezina Trophy and probably the greatest all-time save percentages below his trendy belt – ninth overall in all-time career save percentage – however these aren’t the one explanation why Ottawa ought to be glad to have him.

Ullmark’s antics show how vital it’s to have gamers who’re enjoyable to observe each on and off the ice. It’s exhausting to cheer for a participant that treats the NHL like a 9-to-5 job, and Ullmark has remade the mould of what a hockey participant ought to be.

You need Ullmark in your crew as a result of he’s elite between the pipes, however followers resonate rather more with him as a result of he permits his persona to shine by way of his play. From the funky wide-brimmed hats he wears on sport days to his cool-as-ice goalie masks, followers can really feel extra relaxed with Ullmark guarding the online as a result of they know him higher than “just a few man.”

For Ullmark and the Sens, that is already paying off, regardless that the early phases of Ullmark’s first season in Ottawa haven’t gone in addition to everybody hoped. He’s 2-3-0 in his 5 begins, and missed the primary few video games of the season on account of a lower-body harm. Per moneypuck.com, Ullmark is ranked 53rd out of 70 goalies in targets saved above anticipated, sitting at a regarding minus-2.1.

Regardless of all this, Sens followers are nonetheless rallying behind Ullmark, due to his character off the ice.

On the street towards Vegas on Oct. 26, the Sens had been victims of a basic Golden Knights comeback. After dominating the sport for over 56 minutes, the Senators had a 4-3 lead that shortly changed into a 6-4 loss after three straight Vegas targets.

In his true selfless style, Ullmark took duty for the loss, saying his efficiency was “manner too sloppy to be on this league.”

“If (Ottawa) had a succesful goalie in there at this time, they might have gained 4-3,” he continued.

When Ullmark chokes in web, he follows with an MVP-worthy efficiency outdoors the rink.

The day earlier than the Sens’ first regular-season sport, Ottawa locked up Ullmark with a four-year, $33-million contract extension. In simply a few brief weeks, this goalie has given Ottawa extra hope than they’ve had in a very long time, so there isn’t any telling what he may do over the length of his contract.

Ullmark is a stellar goalie who performs his greatest when he has assist in entrance of him. Earlier than his record-setting years in Boston, Ullmark was minding the online in Buffalo for six seasons. The Sabres had been one other struggling crew throughout Ullmark’s time with them – Buffalo has the longest lively playoff drought at 13 years and counting – and Ullmark struggled to keep up greater than a .500 successful share with the crew.

Throughout his career-high seasons as a Bruin, Ullmark had massive males on the blueline and an array of two-way forwards to provide him loads of help. If the Senators’ protection corps goes right into a droop, Ullmark might be frolicked to dry — simply as he was in Buffalo.

If Ottawa desires Ullmark to work out, Ottawa should work for Ullmark, but when he will get the assistance he wants, there isn’t any motive Ullmark cannot be an important piece in Ottawa’s return to the post-season.

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