When Linus Ullmark signed with the Bruins ahead of the 2021-22 NHL season, his career record with the Buffalo Sabres was 50-47-13 — just a hair above .500. What followed in Boston was three seasons of improved play between the pipes and a Vezina Trophy.
Now, Ullmark will try to bring that same kind of success to the Senators during the 2024-25 season after the Bruins traded him to Ottawa this week. But he knows he couldn’t have made the improvements he did without goalie coach Bob “Goalie Bob” Essensa.
“Goalie Bob is a special human being in all the right ways. He is a terrific guy. He is a special human being and he brings a smile to my face every time I see him, whenever I’m around him,” Ullmark said over Zoom on Wednesday during his introductory press conference. “We’ve had our conversations and discussions throughout the years, but there’s never been any bad blood and we’ve always had a good understanding of what needs to be done.
“And I’ve enjoyed every single moment together with him and I have a lot of gratitude towards Bobby. And I’ve said it before — and I really do think that goalie coaches should be available to be selected into the Hall of Fame,” he added. “And I think he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer in that regard.”
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Before Ullmark signed with the Bruins, he was part of a mediocre Sabres team that never made the playoffs once in his six years in Buffalo. Goalie Bob has worked with some high-level goalies including Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask and Jeremy Swayman. He’s able to elevate goalies and take them to their next level — something he did with Ullmark, as well.
The netminder leaves Boston with an 88-26-10 with a .924 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average in three seasons.
Ullmark should certainly help the Senators in the goalie department with his experience and leadership. It’s unclear if he’ll be in Ottawa for only a year — he’s set to hit free agency after next season — but the team has some good pieces that could lead to a bright future down the line.
“I try not to look too far ahead, I try to stay in the moment and not worry about what may be or what could be in the future and instead just enjoy the present,” Ullmark said of his contract situation.
For now, Ullmark is looking forward to a new chapter despite leaving the goalie hug with Swayman back in Boston.
