Senators’ Linus Ullmark is enjoying his new life in Ottawa
This story appeared on hockeysverige.se this week and has been translated from Swedish to English.
Linus Ullmark had four strong seasons with the Boston Bruins – none more so than when he captured the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in 2022-23.
But this summer, after months of speculation, the Bruins chose to trade him to the Ottawa Senators. Ullmark was entering the final year of his contract, while Boston had decided to invest in Jeremy Swayman as their long-term starting goalie.
Ullmark signed a new contract with Ottawa through 2029, even before making his Senators debut. Despite having the option to play out the final year of his current contract and hit free agency in the summer of 2025, Ullmark felt Ottawa was a place where he could settle.
“My first time here has been really good,” Ullmark says. “There are so many things similar to the lifestyle we had back home in Örnsköldsvik, with a lot of nature and plenty to do. It’s not flashy, but it’s everything we need and more. There’s a closeness to nature, which I appreciate, and that’s something we have in Ö-vik too. The leaders, management, and team here made me think it was very exciting. There’s a lot of potential. It’s about finding those small details to make everything click. It’s a challenge that’s very enticing on its own.”
Ullmark and Ottawa agreed on a new four-year deal worth $8.25 million per year — an identical cap hit to the contract Jeremy Swayman signed with Boston shortly before. The deal will kick in for 2025-26.
This deal makes Ullmark the fifth-highest-paid goaltender in the NHL. Only Carey Price (currently sidelined with injury), Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Connor Hellebuyck have a higher cap hit than Ullmark right now.
“Contract talks, here and there… I decide if I want to be there or not. Then I discuss it with my agent. What happens beyond that, I let him handle. I’m glad to have a close relationship with my agent and know he doesn’t do things for his own gain. He listens to what my family and I need, and it’s not just about the numbers on the contract.”
When did you realize you were actually going to be traded?
“It was around 1:30 in the morning when I got the call, and I understood then. It’s something you don’t take for granted or expect, even if it’s in the back of your mind. But I didn’t worry about things like that; we kept living our lives as usual.”
Ullmark was traded at the end of June, just days before he would have had more say over his trade destination thanks to a clause in his contract.
“As certain dates approached, I thought maybe there wouldn’t be a trade. That’s why I say I didn’t realize it until 1:30 in the morning when it was done. ‘Now I’ve been traded.’ “It was a new experience in my life, but I have to say, since that day, Ottawa has done an amazing job making us feel welcome in the organization. We’ve felt like part of the club from day one.”
Was it a coincidence that you signed the same contract as Swayman, or was there a reason behind it?
“I don’t know… People like to draw that comparison. But if I had the same contract, I’d have four more years. And technically, I don’t. So, I have half of his contract,” he says with a smile. “He’s much younger than me, and I’m happy for him. He deserves the contract he signed.”
Despite the Bruins’ decision to part ways with their star goalie, Ullmark holds no hard feelings.
“I understand the business behind it. Would I have liked to stay, with the life we built and the friends I had off the ice? Yes, those are the things you think about. But at the same time, it can be better somewhere else, too. My experience in Ottawa has been fantastic, and that’s why we signed on for four more years before my first game. Getting traded doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.”
Ullmark emphasizes that Boston was transparent throughout the process.
“My agent and I, along with Don (Sweeney, Boston’s general manager), had good conversations during the season and when the trade came up. We were very open with each other, and I appreciated that. They didn’t do anything behind closed doors and always reached out to us if there was anything on the table. You felt involved, and not just like a chess piece. I appreciated that very much.”
Last weekend, Ottawa’s new starting goaltender returned to TD Garden for the first time since parting ways with Boston. He left the game as a winner, defeating his former team, which chose to start Swayman in net.
“Looking back, I feel like I got some closure. I had a great time there, and getting to play against close friends made it even better.”
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