Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark says he’s ready to hit reset.
After a 2025-26 season that had its share of peaks and valleys - including a 35-day personal leave of absence - the former Vezina Trophy winner told Bruce Garrioch of Ottawa Citizen that he feels refreshed and ready for 2026-27.
Ullmark has been a major piece of Ottawa’s success since arriving before the 2024-25 season. In 93 games with the Senators, he has put together a 53-26-11 record and a .900 save percentage.
By comparison, Ottawa’s other goaltenders combined for a 36-31-7 record and a .864 save percentage over that same stretch. He still hasn’t matched the .924 save percentage he posted over three seasons with the Boston Bruins, but the sense is that a bounce-back is well within reach, especially with a healthier blue line in front of him and better locker room morale.
Elsewhere, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Luca Del Bel Belluz is back on the ice after missing a weekend skate with a shoulder injury, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. That’s welcome news for a player who could carve out a full-time NHL role this season.
The 22-year-old center turned heads in the AHL last year, scoring 22 goals and 58 points in 55 games for the Cleveland Monsters. It was his second season with at least 50 points at that level.
He brought some of that production to Columbus during the 2024-25 season, but last season he couldn’t get his scoring going in NHL action. Through 30 career NHL games, Del Bel Belluz has 10 points.
He enters preseason as a candidate for fourth-line minutes, battling Danton Heinen and Luca Pinelli, and his path would get clearer if unsigned restricted free agent Adam Fantilli isn’t ready for the start of the season.
In Pittsburgh, the Penguins have sent goalie prospect Matvei Nikonovich to the OHL’s Barrie Colts for the 2026-27 season.
Nikonovich is coming off a strong year in Russia’s junior league, where he posted a 20-14-4 record and a .939 save percentage in 38 games before being taken in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. He’s known for his power skating and sharp focus, though he still needs to get better at handling the speed of the game. Barrie should give him a solid chance to develop those traits, and he appears positioned for a split role with Yale University commit Arvin Jaswal.
In Other News...
Penguins Next Wave Is Already Pushing For Bigger Camp Roles
Three days into Penguins training camp, the early shape of this roster is starting to reveal itself, and it is not just the veterans drawing attention. Liam Ruck has already moved up into the NHL group, a small but telling sign that the next wave of players is pressing to be seen in a bigger role. For a team still sorting out its depth and internal competition, those practice group shifts matter as much as any preseason headline.
The larger league chatter around the Penguins has also been busy, with trade talk swirling elsewhere and familiar names like Tristan Jarry part of the broader conversation about how teams are recalibrating for the season ahead. But the most relevant story in Pittsburgh is still the one unfolding on the ice every day at camp, where younger players are forcing the staff to notice them and making each lineup decision feel a little less settled. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Youth Movement Still Feels Stuck After Camp
The Penguins came out of camp with one open forward spot and a need on the left side of defense, but the bigger question was whether any of the young players pushing for jobs had done enough to force the issue. For now, the answer appears to be no. Several prospects were in the mix for NHL roles, yet the expectation is still that none of them will be on the opening-night roster as the team tries to balance immediate needs with a roster that is still taking shape.
Assistant general manager Jason Spezza made clear the door is not closed, saying the roster is not final and that youth will be brought in when it is ready. That leaves the Penguins in a familiar transitional spot, with players who have spent time developing in the AHL waiting for a real opening and the organization still searching for the right moment to make those moves. The challenge now is less about identifying talent than finding a path that lets those prospects contribute without being rushed. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins First Preseason Lineup Opens A Big Opportunity For Camp Players
The Penguins have their first preseason lineup in place for the opener against the Sabres at PPG Paints Arena, and it gives a good early look at how the camp battles are shaping up. The roster blends forwards, defensemen and goaltenders, with the staff set to trim two skaters before puck drop, a reminder that even in September, every shift carries some weight for players trying to carve out a longer stay.
For a group still trying to make an impression, this is the kind of game that can matter beyond the score. It is also the first chance for fans to see the new camp mix in a live setting, with SportsNet Pittsburgh carrying the broadcast and the Penguins official radio station providing the call, as the preseason begins to sort out who gets more runway and who is suddenly watching from the sideline. [Read more 🡒]