NHL Trade Rumors: Elliotte Friedman makes his thoughts clear around Senators' potential $51.2M Linus Ullmark replacement

Linus Ullmark's first season as an Ottawa Senator hasn't gone the way he hoped. When available, Ullmark has been quite good going 12-7-2, with a 2.38 goals-against average, and a .915 save percentage to begin his Senators career. The problem has been health. Ullmark has only started in 22 out of Ottawa's 38 games, missing time on and off due to a back injury.

He last appeared in Edmonton on December 22, where he left during the first period with back tightness. After missing the last four games with the ailment, coach Travis Green announced on Sunday that Ullmark would be out week-to-week with his upper-body injury.

Without the services of their star netminder, the Senators have relied on Anton Forsberg and Leevi Merilainen. Ottawa has fared relatively well without Ullmark, though it will be difficult to do so for a longer period.

Elliotte Friedman spoke on Monday's edition of "32 Thoughts: The Podcast" and discussed the possibility of Ottawa trading for another goalie in Linus Ullmark's absence. He mentioned Ducks goaltender John Gibson, who signed an eight-year, $51.2 million contract with a cap hit of $6.4 million per season in Aug. 2018.

"We've already got a couple of goalie trades, so you're wondering, how many goalies are even available now? The second thing you're looking at is how many teams are still in the race that are not going to want to help you," Friedman said (18:50 onwards).

"And the third thing you're looking at is a lot of these teams that are in the playoffs right now or around the playoffs right now, they're saying we need three guys, and that's the problem.

"Everybody needs three goalies. So, you look and you see who's out there. Like, do you what Anaheim has been asking for John Gibson. It's a lot. Is Ottawa paying that price? I don't think so. And the other thing too is you've already got Ullmark in and out of injury."

"The biggest concern about Gibson, who won his 200th career game on Sunday night, is not his ability, it's his health. So your whole thing that you're trying to do right now is stabilize your net. Are you going to go get someone else who can't stay healthy?" Friedman said.

Linus Ullmark was playing his best hockey of the season prior to the injury

Linus Ullmark's back tightness against Edmonton several weeks ago could not have come at a worse time. Ullmark was spectacular before that.

The Swedish netminder was on a seven-game winning streak, having surrendered only seven goals during that stretch. He recorded sparkling statistics that included a 0.99 goals-against average, a .967 save percentage and two shutouts.

The Ottawa Senators sit one point shy of the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. They will miss Ullmark for however long his absence persists.

The Sens are back in action without their top goalie on Tuesday night in Detroit against the Red Wings. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST at Little Caesars Arena.