Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark, who returned earlier this season after a mental health break, has candidly discussed his ongoing challenges in an interview with The Athletic. Describing himself as 'broken' and not fully healed, Ullmark missed a key game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 28 due to mental health issues as the team pushes for playoffs.
In the interview with The Athletic's Julian MacKenzie, Ullmark highlighted the uneven scrutiny faced by mental health absences compared to physical injuries. 'If a player is physically injured, it's not questioned,' he said. 'But when I'm not available despite having played before, I get criticism. People think I should play because it's my job.' This comes after his emotional return in February following a 35-day absence, underscoring the persistent pressures affecting his performance during a pivotal stretch for Ottawa.