Linus Ullmark refreshed, confident as Ottawa Senators enter new season

Goaltender Linus Ullmark is heading into his third season as a member of the Senators. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

Article content

After a season that tested him both personally and professionally, Linus Ullmark is refreshed and ready for the challenge ahead.

Article content

The Ottawa Senators’ top goaltender raised eyebrows on Day 1 of training camp last September, when he noted he wasn’t happy with either his game or his off-season preparation.

Article content

Article content

His tone was a lot different on Friday, when the 33-year-old Ullmark met with the media for the first time since 2026 camp opened. He was smiling, laughing and even joked about how he felt.

Article content

Article content

“It was even more awful … No, it wasn’t,” he added with a laugh.

Article content

Article content

Ullmark wore a new setup, which included red pads and gloves, presumably to go with the National Hockey League club’s red jersey, and behind the mask you got the sense that he was in a lot better place than he was 365 days ago, now heading into his third full season with the Senators.

Article content

His struggles last season have been well-documented. He wasn’t good to start the schedule, took a 35-day leave of absence for mental health reasons, and returned to not only help lead the Senators into the playoffs but also to perform as their best player against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Article content

Yes, the Senators were swept in Round 1 by the Hurricanes, but Ullmark gave them a chance to win every night. He finished those four contests with a .932 save percentage and a 2.03 goals-against average. It allowed him to go into the off-season feeling good about himself.

Article content

Goaltender Linus Ullmark on the ice during a Senators training camp practice at the Bell Sensplex on Friday. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

Article content

A new helping hand

Article content

After last season’s struggles with goaltending throughout the organization, Steve Staios, Ottawa’s president of hockey operations and general manager, decided to take a new approach.

Article content

Article content

That included bringing in Maciej Szwoch as co-ordinator of goaltending scouting and development.

Article content

Article content

Szwoch, 41, was brought in to work with Ullmark during his leave of absence for mental health reasons. The two are close friends, and Szwoch is considered to be a mentor to Ullmark.

Article content

Szwoch didn’t replace goaltending coach Justin Peters, but will work with him at the National Hockey League and American Hockey League levels. Both played a key role in bringing in Samuel Ersson from the Philadelphia Flyers as the backup to Ullmark.

Article content

“He was there when I started my career, over 15 years ago. We shared a lot of good, happy memories. Also some less happy memories,” Ullmark said.

Article content

“And so it’s fun. He has certainly earned his role here with the team, I’m really glad for his sake, and it’s going to be interesting to see what he can bring to the organization going forward.”

Article content

Szwoch spent time with Ullmark at his home in Sweden just before he returned to Ottawa in September. They spent four days together working on the areas that Ullmark wanted to focus on to prepare for what will be a pivotal campaign with the Senators.