Ullmark signs a 4-year, $33 million contract with the Senators

Linus Ullmark signed a four-year, $33 million contract with the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $8.25 million and begins next season.

The 31-year-old goaltender, who has one season remaining on a four-year, $20 million ($5 million AAV) contract he signed with the Boston Bruins on July 28, 2021, would be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the season can become an agent.

Ullmark, who has yet to play a game with the Senators, was acquired June 24 in a trade with the Bruins for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, forward Mark Kastelic and a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

“As you get to this part of your career, you really want to focus on what’s best for your family. And we felt like it was a great fit since we got here,” Ullmark said. “I hope this can help change things for the better in this organization for this city.”

Ullmark had a 22-10-7 record with a 2.57 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and two shutouts in 40 regular-season games (39 starts) with Boston last season. In two Stanley Cup playoff games (one start), he was 0-1 with a 3.90 GAA and .886 save percentage.

“We are pleased that Linus has signed a contract extension prior to the start of the regular season,” said Senators general manager Steve Staios. “In a short period of time, Linus has been able to experience the culture we want to build with our hockey club and his family has experienced the community spirit of Ottawa-Gatineau.”

Ullmark was selected by the Buffalo Sabers in the sixth round (No. 163) of the 2012 NHL Draft and has a record of 138-73-23 with a 2.51 GAA, a .919 save percentage and eight shutouts in 247 games regular season (238 starts). the Sabers and Bruins. He is 3-6 with a 3.59 GAA and .887 save percentage in 10 playoff games (nine starts).

In the 2022-23 season, Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender after posting a 40-0 record in 49 regular season games (48 starts) with a 1.89 GAA, .938 save percentage and two shutouts. Scored 6-1. However, after starting Boston's first six games against the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2023 Eastern Conference, he was replaced by Jeremy Swayman for Game 7, a 4-3 overtime loss. Boston opted to trade Ullmark this offseason and retain Swayman, whom they signed to an eight-year, $66 million ($8.25 million AAV) contract on October 6.

The Senators begin the regular season against the Panthers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, SCRIPPS) at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa.