Ottawa Senators starting goaltender Linus Ullmark is ready for a fresh start in the 2026-27 season. After a 2025-26 campaign that saw its ups-and-downs, including a 35-day personal leave of absence, the former Vezina Trophy winner told Bruce Garrioch of Ottawa Citizen that he feels refreshed and ready for 2026-27.
The Senators’ success has been closely tied to Ullmark since he arrived in Ottawa ahead of the 2024-25 season. He has sent a 53-26-11 record and .900 save percentage in 93 games with the Senators. Those marks are well above the 36-31-7 record and .864 save percentage totaled by all other Senators goaltenders in that span. Ullmark is an integral part of the Ottawa lineup but hasn’t yet lived up to the .924 save percentage he managed across three seasons with the Boston Bruins. He seems well capable of a resurgence, helped along by a healthy Senators blue-line and improved locker room morale.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Luca Del Bel Belluz is back at practice after missing a weekend skate with a shoulder injury per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. That will bring a sigh of relief for the Blue Jackets’ faithful who could see Del Bel Belluz graduate into a full-time NHL role at some point this season. The 22-year-old center scored 22 goals and 58 points in 55 games with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters last season. It was his second second with at least 50 points at the AHL level. That production translated to the Columbus lineup during the 2024-25 season but Del Bel Belluz couldn’t find his scoring stride in NHL minutes last season. He has combined for 10 points in 30 NHL games through his career so far – and could win out a depth role on the NHL lineup with a strong training camp. Del Bel Belluz enters preseason action as a favorite for fourth-line minutes, in competition with Danton Heinen and Luca Pinelli. His chances at NHL minutes would increased if unsigned restricted free agent Adam Fantilli is unavailable for the start of the season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have reassigned goalie prospect Matvei Nikonovich to the OHL’s Barrie Colts for the 2026-27 season. This move will bring a productive netminder overseas after two seasons in Russia’s junior league. Nikonovich recorded a 20-14-4 record and .939 save percentage in 38 games last season, preceding a fifth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. He is acclaimed for his power skating and sharp focus, though will need to improve his ability to match fast action. The Barrie Colts will provide a great platform to add those traits. Nikonovich should have a clear path to a split-role with Yale University commit Arvin Jaswal.