The Ottawa Senators face a critical stretch of their season with significant uncertainty in goal, as the team officially moved top netminder Linus Ullmark to non-roster status on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The procedural move was necessary to activate veteran centre Lars Eller ahead of the club's game against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.
Roster Maneuver Amid Personal Leave
The shift, confirmed by roster tracking service Puckpedia and the NHL's official website, allows the Senators to exceed the active roster limit while Ullmark remains away from the team. Crucially, his substantial $8.25-million US salary cap hit continues to count against Ottawa's books. Ullmark was granted a personal leave of absence on December 27, and while he was spotted at the rink for a game and returned to the ice for a skate on Tuesday, his timeline for a competitive return is completely unknown.
The activation of Eller provides a boost down the middle, but it underscores the ongoing void left by Ullmark's absence. The Senators organization has not provided any clarity on when the Vezina Trophy-winning goalie will be back between the pipes, leaving the team's goaltending situation in flux during a pivotal part of the schedule.
Playoff Hopes Hanging in the Balance
The roster move comes at a time when the Senators can ill afford any slippage. Following a 3-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night, the team's need for points has become desperate. As they faced the Avalanche, Ottawa found itself four points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with six other teams sitting ahead of them in the race.
Their recent record of 2-4-1 over the past seven games is a pace that will not secure a postseason berth. Moral victories and strong efforts in defeat, like those in recent losses to Utah and the Detroit Red Wings, are no longer sufficient. The message is clear: the Senators must start stringing together actual wins, and they must do it immediately.
Internal Pressure and External Expectations
Head coach Travis Green has publicly tried to maintain a positive focus, stating after the Utah loss that "there was a lot to like" about the performance. However, the standings tell a different story. The fan base's patience is wearing thin after 42 games of inconsistency, and there is growing clamour for President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios to make a significant trade to shake up the roster.
Whether the target is another goaltender to stabilize the crease, a top-six forward, or a top-four defenceman, the external pressure for a move is palpable. The team's immediate schedule offers no respite, with a quick turnaround to face Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers in a major Atlantic Division clash on Saturday night after flying back from Denver.
The Senators' path to the playoffs has grown increasingly steep. With their number one goalie's status up in the air and the competition for points intensifying, every game and every roster decision carries immense weight. The move to activate Eller addresses one need, but the larger question in the Ottawa net remains unanswered, casting a shadow over the team's push for the spring.
