Senators Activate Linus Ullmark, Assign Jonas Johansson

The Ottawa Senators will get their starting goaltender back from injury. Linus Ullmark has been activated off the injured reserve after missing the last eight games with a lower-body injury per Bruce Garrioch of Ottawa Citizen. Ullmark was originally injured in Ottawa’s October 21st matchup against the Florida Panthers after stretching to make a save on Brady Tkachuk. To make room for Ullmark’s return, Ottawa has also assigned goaltender Jonas Johansson to the AHL.

Ottawa has split reps evenly between Samuel Ersson and Johansson since Ullmark’s injury. Ersson set a 3-1-1 record and .922 save percentage in his four starts, while Johansson posted a 1-2-0 record and .848 save percentage. The discrepancy between those numbers will keep Ersson in Ottawa’s backup role, despite starting the season with a 2-3-0 record and .835 save percentage.

Even with Ersson’s hot hand, Ullmark should face no trouble taking Ottawa’s starting role back. The former Vezina Trophy winner was off to an electric start to the season, with a 7-1-0 record and a league-leading .945 save percentage. The performance is a roaring resurgence from the worst season of Ullmark’s career last year. He recorded his first sub-.900 save percentage (.891) despite reaching a 28-12-8 record in 49 starts. Ullmark’s 2025-26 season was clouded by injury and off-ice drama, two things that the 33 year old seems to have kicked off over the summer.

Ullmark will be on his way to more Vezina attention if he can keep his hot start rolling through an extended absence. Ottawa has posted a 4-4-0 record without their top goaltender, stalling out what was a red-hot start to the season. The Senators will hope Ullmark’s return brings the boost needed to move back above the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division standings.

Meanwhile, Johansson will shift to a Belleville club ranked in the middle of the AHL’s North Division. He has already appeared in five games with Belleville, notching a 3-1-1 record and .912 save percentage. The minor-league Senators have tasked young goaltenders Jackson Parsons and Kevin Reidler with manning the crease in Johansson’s absence. Parsons has performed admirably, setting a 4-3-1 record and .916 save percentage. The 21 year old could have pushed his way into a split role with Johansson, while Reidler will likely return to a depth role.