Ottawa Senators Linus Ullmark finally speaks, and the noise around Ottawa changes

Tuesday brought something Ottawa hasn't had in weeks, clarity with a human voice attached.

TSN posted that Senators goalie Linus Ullmark sat down with Claire Hanna to discuss his leave of absence, with the full interview slated for TSN's YouTube channel later in the day.

That matters because the conversation around his absence got ugly, fast.

The Senators felt forced to release a statement earlier this month denying what they called fabricated online rumours, and asked people to respect Ullmark's privacy.

The team has been consistent on the official line since late December, when Steve Staios announced Ullmark would take a leave for personal reasons and that the organization supported him fully.

Nothing more, no timeline, no details, just support.

On the ice, it's been a tough stretch to carry, because Ottawa's goaltending situation is always loud when the results swing.

Ullmark's own season numbers were under the microscope even before he stepped away, which is exactly why the rumour mill found oxygen.

Now, the interview changes the framing. It's not about internet detectives or scoreboard takes, it's about a person choosing to speak when he's ready.

As a fan of the sport, I always hope people remember there's a real life behind the mask.

There's also a hockey layer here, because Ullmark has already been back on the ice at practice recently, and Travis Green described it as a positive step while still keeping it day-to-day.

That's the right balance, optimistic without pushing.

If the full sit-down lands the way TSN teased it, it should help settle the room and cool off the chatter, which is honestly overdue.

When a player addresses a personal leave directly, it tends to pull the conversation back into a respectful lane, where it belongs.