The general manager of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators issued an explosive statement on Thursday, Jan. 8 to admonish ‘the lowest form of trolls and sick people who scour the internet’ in the wake of rumors spreading about the ongoing leave of absence by goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Steve Staios, who also serves as the Senators president of hockey operations, took the unusual step of addressing the social media speculation about an hour before faceoff of the Senators’ 8-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He said Ullmark had the organization’s support and alleged ‘outside forces are attempting to disrupt our hockey club,’ but did not offer any other specifics about the situation.
Ullmark has not played for Ottawa since allowing four goals on 14 shots in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 27. The Swedish goalie has been away from the team for ‘personal reasons’ since then and the Senators moved him to a non-roster spot on Thursday to make room for the return of veteran center Lars Eller.
“Our organization was extremely disappointed to read the completely fabricated and false stories that are spreading around social media about our hockey club,” Staios said in the statement. “Linus is away from our team for personal reasons and he has the entire organization’s support. We asked that people respect his privacy, but clearly that request was not heard by the lowest forms of trolls and sick people who scour the internet. We are disgusted that outside forces are attempting to disrupt our hockey club. This statement will put an end to the ridiculous speculation that spread online.”
Ullmark is 14-8-5 with a 2.95 goals against average and an .881 save percentage in his second season with the Senators. The 32-year-old is in the first year of a four-year, $33 million extension he signed in October 2024.
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