Sens' Tkachuk supports Ullmark, calls rumors about absence 'bullshit'

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk didn't hold back Saturday, speaking candidly about the online rumors surrounding goaltender Linus Ullmark's absence from the team for personal reasons.

"It's OK for people to critique our on-ice performance. But when it gets into family, it's pretty f-----g bullshit," Tkachuk told reporters. "It's embarrassing that it got to the point that it did. And, yeah, I can tell you for free, I'm not happy about it one bit.

"It's just not true. It's just a bullshit story."

Senators forward Tim Stutzle said he reached out to Ullmark immediately after the club announced the netminder would be stepping away.

"I texted him right after when he left the team for something completely different. Which we don't even have to get into, it's something mental health related," Stutzle said. "Everybody knows that out there. I texted him. Just told him that we all support him for whatever he's been going through."

Stutzle also echoed Tkachuk's comments, emphasizing that spreading rumors about a player's family life is "not acceptable."

Ullmark's teammates voiced their support for him after the organization strongly denied the online speculation in a statement issued Thursday.

"Our organization was extremely disappointed to read the completely fabricated and false stories that are spreading around social media about our hockey club," Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios said. "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 has spread online."

The Senators announced Dec. 28 that Ullmark was stepping away from the team indefinitely due to a personal matter. The club moved him to a non-roster spot Thursday to activate forward Lars Eller from injured reserve.

Ullmark last played Dec. 27 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, allowing four goals on 14 shots in a 7-5 loss. The former Vezina Trophy winner owns an .881 save percentage in 28 appearances this season.