Yahoo Sports Ottawa Senators Goalie Linus Ullmark May Soon Have To Reconsider His Plans To Play In The 4 Nations Face-off
For the second time this season, Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark has been knocked out of the lineup due to injury. He left the Senators' December 22nd game against the Edmonton Oilers because, as the team described it, his back tightened up on him.
Now, 12 days later, with no timetable for his return, it's safe to assume the issue is more than garden-variety back pain. Given Ullmark's extreme importance to the Senators, he and the team may soon have to make a tough decision on whether he should participate for Team Sweden in the Four Nations Face-Off in February.
The tournament is just over a month away (Feb. 12-20), and if Ullmark's back is still an issue at that point, he obviously won't play. But even if he returns to the Senators' lineup in time for the event, he and the team may still wish to err on the side of caution.
Compare it to a banged up Tim Stutzle at the end of last season. He could have played the last seven games of the season and probably the World Championships, but it was probably better that he didn't. It allowed him to have an outstanding summer of training, which was good for everyone.
If it comes to that, missing next month's event would certainly be disappointing. It's always an honour to represent your country and Ullmark would probably have the Feb. 17 game circled on his calendar. That's when Team Sweden plays a game in Boston, where the former Bruin is still beloved.
But it’s just an exhibition event with only four teams involved and not a lot for the winner to flex about. Any NHL player like Ullmark who's in the middle of an injury-plagued season would probably be well-advised to skip it.
No one wants a repeat of 2006, when the Senators had perhaps their greatest team ever. In February of that year, they had to send their 41-year-old star goalie, Dominik Hasek, to battle for the Czech Republic at the Olympics, where he suffered a season-ending adductor injury. But at least that was for the Olympics—a tournament that's very much worth the risk, and every bit as big as the Stanley Cup playoffs.
We all know how finicky back issues can be. Whether it’s full rest or other injury prevention strategies, Ullmark should take advantage of the 13-day break next month to help ensure he's at his best for the Ottawa Senators' 2025 playoff drive.
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