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Senators Exploring Trades Amid Linus Ullmark's Injury: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jan 8, 2025 10:15 AM ET

The Ottawa Senators are facing a pivotal moment in their season as they search for a goaltending solution following Linus Ullmark’s indefinite absence.

Ullmark, who was in Vezina-caliber form before suffering an upper-body injury on Dec. 22 and is still week-to-week, had been key to Ottawa’s resurgence. Without him, the Senators’ playoff hopes are faltering.

In December, Ullmark posted an 8-0-1 record, boasting a 1.48 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage. His stellar play propelled Ottawa to a 9–3 month and a wildcard position in the Eastern Conference.

However, since his injury, the team has dropped four of its last five games, and none of the Senators’ remaining netminders—Anton Forsberg, Leevi Merilainen, or Mads Sogaard—have managed to fill the void.

"If he hasn’t already, Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, should be scouring the National Hockey League’s goaltending market," Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen suggested on Sunday.

Garrioch highlighted some potential targets the Senators might try to trade for, including Anaheim’s John Gibson, Montreal’s Cayden Primeau, and Buffalo’s James Reimer, although the perception is it might be hard to land them.

“There’s not a lot out there,” a league executive said about the goalie market, per Garrioch. “If you’re a team heading into the second half of the season, and you’re battling for a playoff spot, you’re going to want to have three goalies.”

Speaking on Monday's episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman emphasized the increasing demand for goaltending depth across the league.

“Every team has realized they need three goalies to contend for a playoff spot,” Friedman said. “With limited options available, prices are climbing.”

For Ottawa, finding a stopgap solution is crucial to keeping their postseason hopes alive. The Senators are sitting at 19–17-2 and a point out of a wildcard spot, but their record without Ullmark points in the absolute worst direction.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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