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Linus Ullmark addressed his absence from the Senators and the wild rumors that compelled common supervisor Steve Staios to place out an announcement earlier this month.
In a sit-down interview with TSN, Ullmark, 32, revealed he stepped away from hockey to handle his psychological well being and referred to as out the individuals who used his absence to unfold the rumor, saying, “individuals love to only f–king drag you down.”
“Individuals surprise why hockey gamers — skilled athletes — usually are not speaking,” he mentioned. “Why we’re not displaying any form of feelings. Why psychological well being in males and in ladies are a stigma. It took them lower than 24 hours from my absence of go away to attempt to discover causes to why I’m gone. Saying that I’m a home-wrecker, an individual that nobody likes within the crew. And I can’t defend myself.
“I didn’t learn about this till days later. And it sucks, as a result of I’ve a household. I’ve a spouse, I’ve youngsters. They get despatched textual content messages asking, ‘Hey, are you guys good?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, why?’ After which they inform you about it the rumors and also you’re like, ‘What the f–ok is fallacious with individuals?’”
Unsubstantiated salacious rumors unfold on social media revolving round Ullmark’s private life after he took a go away of absence following the Senators’ Dec. 27 sport towards the Maple Leafs.
It led to Staois releasing a strongly worded protection of his participant and condemnation of those that have been spreading the falsities.
The goaltender, who rejoined the crew final Monday, mentioned the scenario was indicative of the place issues have gotten with sports activities followers.
“In fact we’re not going to say something. As a result of individuals love to only f–king drag you down,” he mentioned. “They only need to discover a purpose to carry you right down to their degree. They don’t care. [The] common public don’t care. I’m not talking in regards to the Sens followers, as a result of they’ve been superior.
“But when individuals actually, actually need us in sports activities to be extra upfront and sincere, yeah — you gotta take a tough look right here at your self within the mirror.”
In the course of the almost 30-minute interview, Ullmark revealed he was having anxiousness issues and experiencing “panic” in the course of the at factors throughout and earlier than the Senators’ sport towards Toronto.
The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner defined that he had been “very scared” and “was not myself.”
He reached out to the NHL/NHLPA Participant Help Program proper after the sport had ended.
“And I mentioned, ‘Hey. I’m f–ked up. I need assistance.’ And along with this system, along with the group, we arrange a plan and I went by way of the motions and I took the absence of go away,” Ullmark mentioned.
He informed the Senators that he was stepping away to take care of his psychological well being.
The veteran netminder, who has performed for the Sabres, Bruins and Senators throughout his 11-year NHL profession, mentioned his psychological well being struggles went again additional than the late December sport.
Ullmark mentioned revealed he had been coping with points since a June 2024 commerce from the Bruins to the Senators and and that issues have been “piling” up as a result of they have been by no means addressed correctly.
Ullmark appreciated the help he obtained within the wake of the rumors unfold on-line, calling the response from his teammates and Staios “heartwarming.”
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