After stepping away on Dec. 28, some unpleasant rumours began going around, which eventually oozed onto social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took them less than 24 hours from my leave of absence to try to find reasons why I\u2019m gone, saying that I\u2019m a homewrecker, a person that no one likes on the team, and I can\u2019t defend myself,\u201d Ullmark said.<\/p>\n
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Ullmark didn’t specify who he believed was saying these things, but says he knew it wasn’t Sens fans, as they’ve been highly supportive.<\/p>\n
Ullmark was also pleased to hear how his teammates had his back in the ensuing locker room interviews. The players strongly denied the rumour and described him as beloved in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really nice to see the camaraderie and the love that they had. And everybody said the same thing. And that really helped me to… not put it completely aside, but little by little, helping me in the way of dealing with it.”<\/p>\n
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Ullmark also described GM Steve Staios’s statement as incredible, which instantly became an excellent answer to those who repeatedly asked the question, “Why would they put out a statement and draw even more attention to the rumour?”<\/p>\n
\u201cOur organization was extremely disappointed to read the completely fabricated and false stories that are spreading around social media about our hockey club,\u201d the statement went. \u201cLinus is away from our team for personal reasons, and he has the entire organization\u2019s support. We asked that people respect his privacy, but clearly that request was not heard by the lowest forms of trolls and sick people who scour the internet. We are disgusted that outside forces are attempting to disrupt our hockey club. This statement will put an end to the ridiculous speculation that spread online.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ullmark hasn’t announced when he’ll be back in the Senators lineup. For now, he remains on the non-roster list, but meeting with the media would seem like the next step toward a return.<\/p>\n
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Ullmark says he’d be happy if his opening up somehow helps other people as they work their way through mental illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, at the end of the day, it would be a nice thing. But it wasn\u2019t my plan.<\/p>\n
“My plan was to fix me.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa<\/p>\n
Linus Ullmark addresses leave of absence from the Sens<\/p>\n![\"Linus](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/869a0e37e45f2158f842ef03ecc4f631.jpeg\"\/)
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