NHL Update: Linus Ullmark ends all speculation, skates with Ottawa Senators in practice session

Ottawa Senators goaltender, who grabbed eyeballs recently due to his leave of absence from the team, was seen skating in Senator’s practice session for the first time since his long hiatus.

Ullmark skated on his own on Tuesday and appears to be moving forward to a return for the Senators.Linus Ullmark was on leave from the Senators for a personal matter. However, both he and the Senators have kept that matter private, which opened door for rumors to run rampant on social media regarding Ullmark's absence from the team.Earlier, rumors and speculations claimed that Ullmark is at the center of a cheating scandal among players in the Senators' locker room.

But the Senators addressed the issue and vehemently denied these rumors regarding a potential cheating scandal within the team, calling them "completely fabricated."

Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark skated with team for first time since his leave of absence

The Ottawa Senators were playing without Linus Ullmark for a long time due to his leave for personal reasons. However, the wait for their goalie to return has ended as Ullmark was seen back at practice, according to Julian McKenzie of The Athletic. As per reports, Ullmark was last seen playing on December 27 against Toronto, where he allowed four goals.

Acquired from Boston in June 2024, he signed a four-year, $33 million extension in October. This season, Ullmark holds a 14-8-5 record with a 2.95 goals against average and an .881 save percentage in his second season with the Senators.

In his absence, the Senators relied on goaltender Leevi Merilainen, with the 23-year-old starting each of the team’s past five games and nine of 10 since Ullmark took his leave. Merilainen has an 8-10-0 record with a .868 save percentage and a 3.37 goals-against average.Moreover, owing to goalie Ullmark’s absence, the Senators have signed a one-year, one-way contract with an average annual value of $850,000. The decision came as Ottawa has struggled to mend its goaltending situation and make an impact this season. According to TSN, Merilainen, Reimer, and Ullmark were all present on the ice on Friday.Ullmark's return should boost the team’s spirit for the Senators. His return at the practice session indicates that he could make a comeback and spring back in action with the team, putting an end to all the controversial speculations. The Senators will host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, preparing for a third straight victory.Also read: NHL Injury Update: Buffalo Sabres forward Josh Dunne to remain away for at least four weeks due to injury | NHL News - The Times of India