Ottawa Senators
Ullmark Addresses Leave From Senators and Wild Off-Ice Rumors
Linus Ullmark addresses rumors that surfaced during his leave of absence from the Ottawa Senators and why players don’t like to talk.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark sat down with TSN’s Claire Hanna and discussed his leave of absence from the team. During the full sit-down interview, he addressed the false reports that he had affairs with the wives of some players and that the team was crumbling apart as a result.
Senators’ GM Steve Staios released a statement following the allegations, and then several players spoke to the media to deny any truth, defending Ullmark in the process.
The full will be posted to TSN’s YouTube channel, but Ullmark said during the interview:
“The rumors that were being spread about me and my family came less than 24 hours after my absence of leave. And people wonder why hockey players and professional athletes are not talking why we’re not showing any sort of emotions. Why mental health in men and women are a stigma. It took them less than 24 hours from my absence of leave to try to find reasons to why I’m gone saying that I’m a homewrecker a person that no one likes in the team and I can’t defend myself. I didn’t know about this until days later, and it sucks because I have a family, I have a wife and kids and get sent text messages, and they are like, ‘Are you guys good?’ And I’m like, “Ya why?” and they tell you about the text message and it’s like, ‘What the f— is wrong with people?'”
Feel For Ullmark, But Why Did This Story Grow So Big?
One has to feel for Ullmark, who was simply trying to take some personal time away from hockey, for whatever reason. As soon as he left, these stories surfaced and everyone felt the need to go into damage control mode. It’s unfortunate, considering most believe it was a baseless rumor started by a single fan.
The situation is being criticized as poorly handled from start to finish, with unnecessary attention reignited after discussion had largely faded. While there’s understanding for Linus wanting to clear the air, the renewed focus only gives the rumors more life than they deserve.
Media awareness and failed attempts to quell speculation allowed a private matter to spiral into the public. The episode highlights how quickly rumors can spread, the lack of respect for athletes’ privacy, and the need for fans to focus criticism on performance—not personal lives.
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