Linus Ullmark Bio
Sven Linus Ullmark is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on July 31, 1993, in Lugnvik, Sweden, Ullmark has built a reputation as one of the league’s most technically sound netminders. Over the course of his career, he has represented the Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins, and the Senators, winning the Vezina Trophy in 2023 as the NHL’s top goaltender.
Drafted 163rd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2012, Ullmark steadily developed from a late-round selection into a franchise goaltender. He is known for his calm demeanor, his efficient movement, and his willingness to speak openly about mental health, an issue that has shaped both his personal life and his outlook on professional sports.
Early Life and Background
Linus Ullmark was born on July 31, 1993, in Lugnvik, a small town in Sweden, and grew up there with an older brother named Tobias. He comes from a working-class family and spent his early years immersed in the rhythms of small-town Swedish life, where local ice rinks serve as the social hub of the community. His father, Jan-Olof, played a meaningful role in his childhood until a stroke limited his ability to work, and the family later faced the additional strain of Jan-Olof’s struggles with alcoholism.
Ullmark found stability and purpose in hockey, and the sport quickly became a central part of his identity. As a young goaltender, he was drawn to the demands of the position, including the focus, responsibility, and solitude that the crease demands. The challenges at home, including his father’s health, were difficult, and Ullmark has openly discussed how those experiences shaped his resilience and perspective on the game.
Path to Professional Hockey
Ullmark began his junior career assigned to Kramfors-Alliansen of the Swedish J18 Elit League during the 2008-09 season, while remaining part of the Modo Hockey organization. He rejoined Modo’s junior program and worked his way up, eventually appearing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) as a teenager. In 2013-14, his first full season with Modo’s senior team, he posted a 17-16-0 record, a 2.08 goals against average, and a .931 save percentage, earning the Honken Trophy as the SHL’s best goaltender.
Although he was eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ullmark was not selected. A year later, the Buffalo Sabres chose him 163rd overall in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, and on May 28, 2014, they signed him to a three-year entry-level contract. That agreement launched his transition from Swedish professional hockey to the North American professional ranks.
Linus Ullmark Career
Early Career in the AHL (2015-2018)
Ullmark made his NHL debut on October 24, 2015, stopping 24 of 27 shots in a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, and picked up his first NHL win in his next start, a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Across his first NHL season he appeared in 20 games for the Sabres, going 8-10-2 with a 2.60 goals against average and a .913 save percentage, while also playing 28 games for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Over the following two seasons, Ullmark continued to shuttle between Buffalo and Rochester, representing the Americans at both the 2017 and 2018 AHL All-Star Classics. He used those years to refine his craft under the pressure of regular playing time, establishing himself as a reliable starter at the AHL level and showing glimpses of the form that would later make him an NHL star.
Buffalo Sabres Breakthrough (2018-2021)
Ullmark joined the Sabres on a full-time basis for the 2018-19 season and immediately delivered. He opened the year with his first career NHL shutout, stopping all 36 shots in a 3-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on October 13, 2018, and later turned aside all 40 shots he faced in a 3-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on December 22, 2018. He finished the campaign with a 15-14-5 record, sharing the crease with Carter Hutton.
In 2019-20, Ullmark took on a heavier workload and finished 17-14-3, but a lower-body injury limited him late in the year. He returned from the pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to play one more game before the season was suspended. The following year, he signed a one-year, $2.6 million deal and was named Buffalo’s starting goaltender, going 9-6-3 in 20 appearances before another lower-body injury ended his season. In a difficult 2020-21 campaign, he memorably ended Buffalo’s historic 18-game losing streak, the longest in the NHL since the 2003-04 season, by stopping the Philadelphia Flyers in a 6-1 win on March 31, 2021.
Boston Bruins Era (2021-2024)
On July 28, 2021, Ullmark left the Sabres as a free agent and signed a four-year, $20 million contract with the Boston Bruins, becoming their new starting goaltender. In his first season, he went 26-10-2 with a 2.45 goals against average and a .917 save percentage, helping Boston return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, though the Bruins were eliminated in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 2022-23 season became the defining year of Ullmark’s career. He went 40-6-1, led the NHL with a 1.89 goals against average and a .938 save percentage, and on February 25, 2023, he became the 13th NHL goaltender ever to score a goal, firing the puck into the Vancouver Canucks’ empty net in a 3-1 Boston win. The Bruins set NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points to claim the Presidents’ Trophy, and Ullmark shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with teammate Jeremy Swayman. He was named an NHL First Team All-Star and was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender.
In 2023-24, Ullmark remained a steady presence, starting 39 games and finishing the year strong with a 1.90 goals against average and a .935 save percentage in his final nine games. Although the Bruins once again fell to the Florida Panthers in the playoffs, Ullmark’s work in Boston cemented his status as one of the premier goaltenders of his era.
Ottawa Senators Era (2024-Present)
On June 24, 2024, Ullmark was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mark Kastelic, Joonas Korpisalo, and a 2024 first-round pick. Just before the 2024-25 season began, he signed a new four-year contract extension with Ottawa, signaling the club’s long-term commitment to him as a cornerstone. He made his Senators debut in a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers on October 10, 2024, and earned his first shutout for Ottawa on November 12, 2024, blanking the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0.
A back injury suffered on December 22, 2024, kept Ullmark out of the lineup for 18 games, but he returned to action on February 4, 2025. Later, on December 28, 2025, he took a leave of absence to focus on his mental health before rejoining the team on January 25, 2026, and starting against the New Jersey Devils on January 31, 2026. His willingness to prioritize well-being has drawn widespread respect across the league.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ullmark is recognized for his smooth lateral movement, his technical efficiency in the butterfly style, and his calm composure under pressure. He tracks the play with a steady glove and is considered especially strong in controlling rebounds, allowing his defensemen to limit second chances. His partnership with goaltending coaches and his willingness to study opposing shooters have made him a textbook technician in the modern NHL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ullmark’s signature achievements are his Vezina Trophy in 2023, his place as the 13th NHL goaltender to score a goal, his role in Boston’s record-setting 65-win and 135-point Presidents’ Trophy campaign, and the four-year contract extension he signed with the Ottawa Senators. He also represented Sweden at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, earning a bronze medal, and returned to the international stage at the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Finland.
Linus Ullmark Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Ullmark grew up in Lugnvik with his older brother Tobias, the son of Jan-Olof, whose struggles with alcoholism and a stroke shaped a difficult childhood for the young goaltender. His father passed away on January 18, 2021, from complications of diabetes related to alcoholism, a loss that Ullmark has publicly said contributed to his own experience with depression. He has credited his wife, Moa Wikman, his goalie coaches Maciej Szwoch and Magnus Helin, and Modo’s psychiatrist with helping him persevere through that period.
Ullmark married his wife, Moa Wikman, in 2017, and together they have a son and a daughter. Outside of hockey, he is a passionate fan of esports, particularly Dota 2, and in 2019 he appeared on a Dota 2 podcast to discuss the parallels between competitive gaming and professional sports.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season represented a transition year for Ullmark in Ottawa, as he adjusted to a new team, a new four-year contract, and the responsibility of being a veteran presence in a developing Senators locker room. He opened the year with a win against the Florida Panthers and quickly recorded a shutout over the Toronto Maple Leafs, showing the same form that defined his Vezina-winning campaign in Boston.
Injuries interrupted his rhythm, with a back problem in late December 2024 forcing him to miss 18 games, but he returned to the lineup in early February 2025. The Senators continued to build around him, and his work between the pipes remained a stabilizing force for a club aiming to climb into postseason contention.
On December 28, 2025, Ullmark stepped away from the team to focus on his mental health, returning on January 25, 2026, and starting against the New Jersey Devils six days later. His candid handling of the leave drew praise from teammates and rivals alike and underscored his role as a leader in the Senators’ organization, both on and off the ice.
