Huge change in Senators’ dressing room during players’ travel day

Let’s keep moving forward. Senators insider Bruce Garrioch has reported, after the 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, that goalie Linus Ullmark’s equipment is back in the Ottawa dressing room ahead of Thursday’s game against the Rangers in New York.

The rest of his teammates are out travelling and it felt like the right time for the organization to turn a new leaf.

Insane rumours emerged last week on the state of the dressing room, a rumour that essentially stated that Ullmark’s teammates had kicked him off the team for exposing some of his teammates for cheating on their wives. In particular captain Brady Tkachuk was implicated in the rumors, leading him to make a strong denial to the media. He called the rumor ‘made up bullshit’ and admonished media members for spreading a false narrative.

This development signals more than just a return to play for the veteran goaltender. After the wild cheating-on-wives rumors rocked the Senators’ locker room last week, Ullmark’s impending return appears to mark a turning point, as the team looks to move forward and refocus on the ice.

While the organization hasn’t given a clear timeline for Ullmark stepping returning to game action, having his gear in the dressing room is a major sign that the goalie is preparing to rejoin the team. The Senators are also using the upcoming stretch of games to stabilize the dressing room and put the focus back on performance, particularly with playoff positioning still within reach. Ottawa is last in the Atlantic Division, but sit just six points back of the second Wild-Card spot.

Insider Darren Dreger claims it is possible the Ullmark returns at some point mid next week.

Fans and pundits will be watching closely to see how Ullmark’s return impacts team dynamics and whether the Senators can refocus on hockey after such a tumultuous period.