NHL Trade Rumor: Ottawa Senators exploring goalie market amid Linus Ullmark's injury

The Ottawa Senators were dealt unfortunate news on the injury front as goaltender Linus Ullmark was placed on injured reserve.

Ullmark, one of Ottawa’s key offseason acquisitions, was brought in via a trade with the Boston Bruins and soon signed to a contract extension. However, he has not played since Dec. 22, when the Senators fell 3-1 to the Edmonton Oilers.

For now, the Senators have turned to a tandem of Anton Forsberg and Mads Sogaard, but reports indicate that Ottawa management may be exploring the market for a potential acquisition to bolster their goaltending in Ullmark’s absence.

According to Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Citizen, three names have been floated as potential targets for the Senators: John Gibson, Cayden Primeau and James Reimer.

"A check with a league executive and a league insider indicated that the market isn’t great for netminders," Garrioch wrote. "The names floated to Postmedia included Anaheim’s John Gibson, Montreal’s Cayden Primeau and Buffalo’s James Reimer."

Gibson has been the subject of frequent trade rumors in recent months, especially with the emergence of Lukas Dostal in Anaheim. The 30-year-old is under contract through 2027 with an average annual value (AAV) of $6.4 million.

While Gibson’s talent is undeniable, the Senators would struggle to justify carrying nearly $15 million in goaltending salary between Ullmark and Gibson.

Reimer has had a tumultuous season, splitting time between the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks. After signing with Buffalo during the offseason, he was waived, claimed by Anaheim, then waived again and re-claimed by the Sabres. Reimer’s AAV is $1 million, making him an affordable choice.

Primeau, a member of the rival Montreal Canadiens organization, was recently placed on waivers but went unclaimed and was subsequently sent to the AHL’s Laval Rocket. At an AAV of just $895,000, Primeau would be the most budget-friendly option for the Senators.

Linus Ullmark was acquired by the Senators from the Bruins during the offseason

The Senators acquired Linus Ullmark in a major trade during the offseason, sending the underperforming Joonas Korpisalo back to the Bruins in return. Korpisalo was only one year into the five-year, $25 million deal he signed with Ottawa in the summer of 2023.

Shortly after the trade, the Senators locked up Ullmark to a four-year, $33 million deal with an AAV of $8.25 million.

In his first year with the Senators, Linus Ullmark has posted a 12-7-2 record with a 2.38 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and three shutouts.