News and Rumours on the Ottawa Senators as Preseason Gets Underway

Chris Johnston of TSN’s Insider Trading have brought us today’s rumour. The Ottawa Senators led by general manager Steve Staios and his staff are apparently wanting to hold off on serious contract extension talks. Linus Ullmark is in a bit of a unique situation. The pending unrestricted free agent only came to Ottawa via trade from the Boston Bruins in the summer. It seems that they organization would prefer to allow Ullmark time to breathe and get comfortable in Ottawa. The management and coaches do think highly of the 31-year-old.

In allowing Ullmark time to get situated, it also gives him time to play in games. Ullmark is determined to let his play dictate the terms of a potential deal. He wants to put up the type of numbers that warrant being deserving of a sizeable contract. You’d think being only two years removed from a Vezina Trophy, he does desire a nice deal. If his play supports his case, the Sens will have no issue paying him accordingly.

Ullmark won the Vezina while posting sensation numbers in 2022-23. He had a 40-6-1 record, with a .938 SV% and a 1.89 GAA. Those numbers dipped last year, posting a .915 SV% and a 2.57 GAA. However, with a career .918 SV% over his nine NHL seasons thus far, look for regression to the norm only be a positive for he and the Sens and their search for a number one NHL netminder.

Sticking with Ullmark, head coach Travis Green did have to confirm why Linus Ullmark was not available for the club’s first two preseason contests. He just mentioned that he had tweaked something. Moreover, he wanted to reassure everyone that he is going to be fine. Perhaps we can look at it as an overabundance of caution in the scenario. However, today he is at practice for the Sens. It seems that the plan is he will get into some game action on Thursday. That’s when the Senators take on another Atlantic Division rival, the Buffalo Sabres.

Along with Ullmark, fans are also excited to see Josh Norris get in game situation. Ahead of yesterday’s victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Green suggested that they will ‘err on the side of caution.’ In contrast, he insisted to Sens nation, that they will get an opportunity to see Norris in a preseason game.

One final note for injuries, is on Ridly Greig. The Leaf-Sen rivalry is alive and well after two games in three nights between the hot-headed, inter-provincial rivals. Unfortunately, for the Sens, one victim was Greig. He was literally thrown to the ice by Toronto Maple Leaf hopeful Pontus Holmberg. The Sens reported that his head was hurting him, and again, figured giving him some rest was the best decision. He never did return to play after the incident last evening. Good news is he was practicing with the club as usual earlier today.

Main Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports