The Ottawa Senators took the unusual step this week of denouncing internet rumors about goaltender Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence.
Captain Brady Tkachuk took it another step on Saturday, Jan. 10, in an expletive-filled media session in which he said, ‘It’s not true. It’s just a (expletive) story.’
General manager Steven Staios had put a statement on Jan. 8 about Ullmark, who went on leave on Dec. 28. It read in part:
“Linus is away from our team for personal reasons and he has the entire organization’s support. We asked that people respect his privacy, but clearly that request was not heard by the lowest forms of trolls and sick people who scour the internet. We are disgusted that outside forces are attempting to disrupt our hockey club. This statement will put an end to the ridiculous speculation that spread online.”
Tkachuk was asked about it on Saturday and said that it’s OK for people to critique the team’s on-ice performance but spreading rumors about players’ families is stepping over the line.
‘It’s embarrassing that it got to the point that it did and I can tell you for free that I’m not happy about it one bit,’ he said.
He added: ‘That’s just our society and life now that people can just say whatever they want and no repercussions and don’t really realize who it affects. It’s just crazy to bring up a crazy story like that and talk about people’s families and stuff like that. I honestly can’t really wrap my head around it.’
The Senators lost 8-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 8. Tkachuk said the players weren’t using the rumors as an excuse and said he feels for Ullmark.
‘Nobody knows what he’s going through, but the fact that he has to even deal with this, even have to think about it,’ Tkachuk said. ‘All we care about for him is getting what he needs. We said from Day 1 that he has our support, the whole organization’s support. Now that he has to deal with this, it’s mind blowing.’