The Senators are choosing patience with Linus Ullmark, and that decision has opened the door for Embrun native Jackson Parsons to get his first taste of regular-season NHL life with his hometown team.
Ottawa announced Tuesday morning that Parsons has been recalled to serve as the backup while Samuel Ersson gets another start. It’s a chance for the 21-year-old to dress for a meaningful game at the NHL level, even if his role is limited for now. The Senators don’t have another back-to-back until the end of the month, so Parsons is here strictly as insurance behind Ersson.
For Parsons, the call came with all the emotion you’d expect from a local kid getting the news.
"Yeah, it’s surreal," Parsons said. "When I got the call yesterday, it was a very happy ride up to Ottawa, calling some lifelong buddies who are also Sens fans and they couldn’t believe it either. So I’m just super happy to be back."
Parsons has handled himself well early in his first full season as a pro. After splitting time between the ECHL and AHL last year, he has settled in as a full-time AHL goalie with Belleville. With Jonas Johansson spending plenty of time in Ottawa over the past month, Parsons has started eight of Belleville’s 14 games this season and has gone 4-3-1 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
Ullmark’s return looked close over the weekend. He had resumed full participation in practice and was officially removed from injured reserve, which pointed toward a possible return for Tuesday night’s home game against the Washington Capitals. Instead, the Senators are taking the longer view and giving him a little more time before putting him back into game action.
That caution makes sense with Ersson rolling. The 27-year-old is looking for his fourth straight win after a rougher start to his Senators tenure, and he has given up only four goals over his last three starts. With that kind of run, Ottawa can afford to be careful with Ullmark and make sure he’s fully healthy.
Ullmark hasn’t played since October 21, when he suffered a lower-body injury in the Senators’ 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Even with the layoff, his numbers have been outstanding: a 7-1 record, a 1.33 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage.
For Parsons, the moment is still a big one. He grew up just east of the city, and being around the NHL club in any capacity is a notable step in his development. At 21, with his 22nd birthday coming in a couple of weeks, he’s already done enough to get on the radar for a call-up like this.
For now, though, the crease belongs to Ersson again, and the Senators are comfortable letting that ride. Thanks to his three straight wins, the goaltending picture is a lot calmer than it was just 10 days ago.
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The organization still sees plenty to like in his talent and development path, but the early returns have also made clear where the work remains. Ottawas coaches have pointed to the need for continued growth before he can be trusted in a bigger role, and his usage could keep shifting depending on how the team handles its blue line in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]