When the Ottawa Senators acquired goaltender Linus Ullmark in a June trade ahead of the 2024 draft, fans were thrilled that the team’s most glaring problem had been expertly addressed. This was quickly tempered by the realization that Ullmark only had one year left on his contract, so there is a risk that this will just be a one-year reprieve from the perpetual graveyard of Ottawa goalies .
Regarding a possible contract extension, general manager Steve Staios has repeatedly indicated that he wants to give Ullmark time to ensure he is happy and comfortable with the local Ottawa community before starting negotiations.
And while mundane details such as length, salary and contract structure will undoubtedly enter into the negotiation process, it may be the nature of the local community that tips the scales in Ottawa’s favor .
There is much discussion that Canadian NHL cities are less desirable locations for players who will jump at the first opportunity in unrestricted free agency to play in low-tax, warm-climate American cities. But Ullmark and his wife, Moa, are both from Sweden, and like any young family, they’re probably looking for the comforts of home.
Perhaps Coach Alfredsson had the opportunity to sit down with the Ullmarks and talk about the presumably positive experiences he and Bibi had while raising their four boys in his adopted hometown of Ottawa.
Five of the eight Swedish-born players elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame played most or all of their NHL careers in Canadian cities. Sweden’s climate, geography and socio-economic systems are much more similar to those of Canada than south of the border, which could seemingly create a level of comfort with added value.
If you think taxes in Canada are high, try living in Sweden for a while. And if you’re concerned about the negative impact of Ottawa’s notoriously harsh winters, know that Ullmark’s hometown of Lugnvik is located on a line of latitude 17 degrees further north than Ottawa.
When Staios indicated that he wanted to give Ullmark the opportunity to learn about the nature of the local community before considering its long-term future, we may have assumed he was talking about Linus. May I be among the first to say welcome to Ottawa, Ms. Ullmark; you and your family will love this place.
