Linus Ullmark (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈliːnus ˈulmɑːrk];[1] born 31 July 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round, 163rd overall, of the 2012 NHL entry draft. With the Boston Bruins during the 2022–23 season, Ullmark led the NHL in wins, goals against average, and save percentage, scored an empty net goal, and won both the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy, the latter being shared with his teammate Jeremy Swayman.
| Linus Ullmark | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Ullmark with the Rochester Americans in 2018 | |||
| Born |
31 July 1993 Lugnvik, Sweden | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Ottawa Senators Modo Hockey Buffalo Sabres Boston Bruins | ||
| National team |
 Sweden | ||
| NHL draft |
163rd overall, 2012 Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Playing career | 2011–present | ||
Playing career
editBuffalo Sabres
editOn 27 May 2014, Ullmark was signed by the Buffalo Sabres to a three-year, entry-level contract.[2] He was returned on loan to Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the 2014–15 season.
In his first season in North America, Ullmark attended the Sabres' training camp. After recovery from an early injury, he was assigned to begin the 2015–16 season with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL). Ullmark played in three games before being recalled to the Sabres on 23 October 2015. He made his NHL debut the following day, making 24 saves in a 4–3 defeat to the New Jersey Devils.[3] His first victory came in his second start, a 3–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.[4]
Ullmark would spend majority of the subsequent season with the Americans, amassing a record of 26–27–2. He appeared in one game for the Sabres, falling 4–2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 13 June 2017, the Sabres re-signed Ullmark to a two-year, $1.5 million contract with an annual average of $750,000.[5]
Ullmark joined the Sabres full-time during the 2018–19 season. In his season debut on 13 October, he recorded his first career NHL shutout, stopping all 36 shots faced in a 3–0 win over the Arizona Coyotes.[6] On 22 December, Ullmark stopped all 40 shots faced to shut out the Anaheim Ducks 3–0.[7] Overall, he recorded a 15–14–5 record in 37 games while backing up Carter Hutton.
On 3 August 2019, the Sabres re-signed Ullmark to a one-year, $1.325 million contract.[8] On 25 October 2020, Ullmark signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Sabres.
Boston Bruins
editOn 28 July 2021, Ullmark left the Sabres as a free agent and signed a four-year, $20 million contract to be the starting goaltender with the Boston Bruins.[9] Ullmark played his first regular season game for the Bruins on 22 October 2021, a 4–1 win against the Sabres.[10] Although rookie Jeremy Swayman started the first couple games of the season, Ullmark started most of the games before Tuukka Rask's return from injury. Ullmark was named as the starting goaltender for the Bruins for their first round series against the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. Ullmark would struggle in the first two games, as he let up four goals in both games, both of which were losses. As a result, the team opted to start Swayman in Game 3, who would start the rest of the series. The Bruins would be eliminated by Carolina in Game 7.
The 2022–23 season was a historic one for the Bruins. Ullmark and Swayman's post-victory "goalie hug" embrace became a widely-covered team ritual.[11][12] Ullmark was named one of three Boston representatives to the 2023 NHL All–Star Weekend, joining head coach Jim Montgomery and teammate David Pastrňák. Ullmark notched his 100th career win on 19 January, saving 25 of 26 shots against the New York Islanders.[13] On 25 February, he became the thirteenth NHL goaltender to score a goal, and the first since Pekka Rinne in 2020, as he shot the puck directly into the Vancouver Canucks' empty net with less than one minute remaining in the Bruins' 3–1 win.[14] The Bruins finished the regular season with new records in both wins (65) and points (135), winning the Presidents' Trophy. Ullmark and Swayman together received the William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltending tandem to allow the fewest goals against.[15][16] Ullmark's personal record was 40–6–1 and he led the NHL in GAA (1.89) and save percentage (.938). He was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender.[17] The Bruins entered the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs as the favourites for the championship. However, they were ousted in the first round by the Florida Panthers, squandering a 3–1 series lead in the process. Ullmark was ultimately pulled after Game 6, after he had allowed seven goals in the game.[18][19] Ullmark defended coach Montgomery, saying "something that everybody does when things aren't going the way they want to is they're trying to find a scapegoat."[20]
Although Ullmark entered the 2023–24 season as Boston's starting goaltender, Swayman's play saw him get an uptick in starts. As was established in the previous two seasons, however, the two still split relatively even starts, with Ullmark starting 39 games to Swayman's 43. Ullmark finished off the season on a strong note, recording a 1.90 GAA and .935 save percentage in his final nine games after the deadline. During the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Bruins were eliminated in six games by the Panthers in the second round.[21]
Ottawa Senators
editOn 24 June 2024, Ullmark was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mark Kastelic, Joonas Korpisalo, and a 2024 first-round pick.[22]
Personal life
editUllmark is a fan of esports, and of Dota 2 in particular. On 18 March 2019, he appeared on a Dota 2 podcast where he discussed the differences between playing Dota and ice hockey, as well as comparisons between the professional scenes of competitive gaming and traditional sports.[23]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
editBold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2010–11 | Modo Hockey | J20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Modo Hockey | J20 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 1,521 | 70 | 1 | 2.76 | .918 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 242 | 9 | 1 | 2.24 | .927 | ||
| 2011–12 | Modo Hockey | SEL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 148 | 8 | 0 | 3.24 | .890 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Modo Hockey | J20 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 1,352 | 46 | 2 | 2.04 | .924 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 250 | 8 | 1 | 1.39 | .947 | ||
| 2012–13 | Mora IK | Allsv | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 343 | 12 | 0 | 2.10 | .904 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Modo Hockey | SEL | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 320 | 11 | 0 | 2.07 | .934 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 133 | 3 | 0 | 1.47 | .955 | ||
| 2013–14 | Modo Hockey | SHL | 35 | 17 | 16 | 0 | 2,043 | 71 | 3 | 2.08 | .931 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 127 | 9 | 0 | 4.24 | .899 | ||
| 2014–15 | Modo Hockey | SHL | 35 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 1,926 | 100 | 1 | 3.12 | .905 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 28 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 1,582 | 90 | 0 | 3.41 | .902 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 20 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1,131 | 49 | 0 | 2.60 | .913 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 55 | 26 | 27 | 2 | 3,202 | 153 | 1 | 2.87 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 3.06 | .917 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 44 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 2,579 | 105 | 2 | 2.44 | .922 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 175 | 16 | 0 | 5.50 | .800 | ||
| 2017–18 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 240 | 8 | 0 | 2.00 | .935 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 37 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 2,103 | 109 | 2 | 3.11 | .905 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 34 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 2,027 | 91 | 1 | 2.69 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 20 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1,118 | 49 | 0 | 2.63 | .917 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 41 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 2,331 | 95 | 1 | 2.45 | .917 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 116 | 8 | 0 | 4.16 | .860 | ||
| 2022–23 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 49 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 2,883 | 91 | 2 | 1.89 | .938 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 360 | 20 | 0 | 3.33 | .896 | ||
| 2023–24 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 40 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 2,400 | 103 | 2 | 2.57 | .915 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 3.90 | .886 | ||
| SHL totals | 79 | 32 | 39 | 0 | 4,437 | 190 | 4 | 2.56 | .922 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 260 | 12 | 0 | 2.77 | .916 | ||||
| NHL totals | 247 | 138 | 73 | 23 | 14,288 | 598 | 8 | 2.51 | .918 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 552 | 33 | 0 | 3.59 | .887 | ||||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Sweden
| ||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
 |
2014 Minsk | |
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Sweden | WC | 
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2022 | Sweden | WC | 6th | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 186 | 7 | 1 | 2.26 | .920 | |
| Senior totals | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 186 | 7 | 1 | 2.26 | .920 | ||||
Honours and awards
editReferences
edit- ^ "2021-22 NHL Pronunciation Guide" (PDF). National Hockey League. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ jmaloni (27 May 2014). "Buffalo Sabres sign goaltender Linus Ullmark to entry-level contract". Niagara Frontier Publications. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Devils defeat Sabres for fourth win in a row". National Hockey League. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "O'Reilly, Eichel get Sabres over Flyers 3-1". USA Today. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Sabres re-sign Ullmark to two-year deal". The Sports Network. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Callari, Jenna (14 October 2018). "A night of firsts for Dahlin and Ullmark as Sabres beat Coyotes 3-0". WKBW Buffalo. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ Lysowski, Lance. "Sabres fend off third-period rally, shut out Ducks, 3-0, to end losing streak". Buffalo News. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ "Ullmark agrees to 1-year contract". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ "Bruins announce free agent signings and transactions". Boston Bruins. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Coyle, Ullmark lead Bruins to 4-1 win over Sabres". ESPN. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ Murphy, Bryan (19 April 2023). "Bruins goalie hug, explained: How Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman's embrace has become Boston winning tradition". The Sporting News. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Goss, Nick (14 April 2023). "How Ullmark and Swayman made NHL history by winning Jennings Trophy". NBC Sports. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Ullmark dominates for Bruins to beat Islanders, earn 100th career win". RSN. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Woodley, Kevin (25 February 2023). "Ullmark scores, Bruins defeat Canucks for 6th straight win". NHL.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Hurley, Michael (14 April 2023). "Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman finish season with historically absurd gap over rest of NHL". NBC Sports. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Ullmark, Swayman Win William M. Jennings Trophy". NHL.com. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Satriano, David (11 May 2023). "Hellebuyck, Sorokin, Ullmark named Vezina Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Shinzawa, Fluto (1 May 2023). "Bruins coach Jim Montgomery made too many wrong moves to overcome". The Athletic. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Roche, Scott (1 May 2023). "Blame for Bruins' Playoff Collapse Spreads Deep in Locker Room". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Ryan, Conor (3 May 2023). "Linus Ullmark offers support for Jim Montgomery amid criticism for Bruins' first-round exit". Boston.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Panthers eliminate Bruins to advance to conference final". TSN. The Canadian Press. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Ullmark traded to Senators by Bruins for Korpisalo, 1st-round pick". National Hockey League. 24 June 2024.
- ^ moonducktv (18 March 2019), Trent & Zyori Podcast #142 w/ Linus Ullmark, retrieved 28 April 2019
- ^ "Linus Ullmark Selected to 2023 NHL All-Star Game". Boston Bruins. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via NHL.com.
- ^ "NHL William M. Jennings Trophy Winners". National Hockey League. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Linus Ullmark Wins Vezina Trophy at 2023 NHL Awards". Boston Bruins. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via NHL.com.
- ^ "NHL announces 2022-23 1st, 2nd All-Star Teams". National Hockey League. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Boston Bruins Announce 2022-23 Season Awards". Boston Bruins. Retrieved 1 April 2023 – via NHL.com.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database