Senators news and rumors: Ullmark, Norris, Yakemchuk – The Hockey Writers – Ottawa Senators

In this edition of Ottawa Senators News & Rumors, we look at possible injury updates for goaltender Linus Ullmark, Josh Norris' status as the preseason continues, and what the future holds for newly signed defenseman Carter Yakemchuk.

Ullmark Dealing with Minor Injuries

After a full summer of not worrying about the Senators raiding for the first time in a very long time, some concern has returned to some of the fans who have been paying attention to the latest news from the Senators' morning skates, practices, and preseason teams.

After not being fit for the first pre-season game, many expected goalkeeper Ullmark to play the second game and find his first 60 minutes below his best in the new uniform. The Senators acquired Ullmark last season for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a draft pick, and he is considered a savior in the crease.

While it's been a long wait to see what Ullmark can do in Ottawa, the wait is about to get long as the goaltender did not participate in the morning skate before the Sept. 24 preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Head coach Travis Green said Ullmark missed practice on Sept. 22 for a maintenance day, but he is still not with the team.

It is not time to worry. The start of the preseason is when top level veterans are getting used to their roles, and while Ullmark may be dealing with something, if it was a serious problem, there would be more transparency and an explanation from the club.

When he misses a lot of time, many will be very worried, but as it is, it is not something to lose sleep over.

Norris Is Not Ready

Although it's a very different situation than Ullmark, Norris is still not up to full speed. Norris has yet to fully participate in all practices and has not been mentioned in any line rush or preseason planning.

Norris spoke to the media a few days ago, and assured everyone that his shoulder is on the mend and that he is in a much better place in his recovery than he was last season. As many remember, Norris missed 32 games last season, and in the 50 games he played, he was not playing at the level he was before the bug hit.

Norris' third shoulder surgery casts some doubt on his long-term performance, but with things going better this year than last, there is hope that he will enter the season.

Norris spent some time on the ice training and looked comfortable. Clips of him playing physical made the rounds on X, Coach Green talked about how good he looked and didn't shy away from anything, and was impressed with his performance. Norris is one of the biggest factors in the hunt for the playoffs this season, and if he struggles or aggravates the injury, things will be very different and a big challenge for the club and the player.

Carter Yakemchuk Stands Out in Preseason Debut

The preseason is always a time for players to shine and for fans to get overly excited about their performances, but in Yakemchuk's case, he made quite the impression on the Senators.

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The expectation that Yakemchuk heading into the preseason was to play a few preseason games to show the staff where his development was, after just one game, some thought he might get a nine-game trial in the NHL before going back. Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

With 23 minutes of ice time playing next to Thomas Chabot, Yakemchuk came in well against the Maple Leafs' best players in the first preseason game. After the draft, the consensus was that Yakemchuk didn't have much of a role offensively, but his defense was raw.

Starting in the attacking half, Yakemchuk didn't shy away from showing that in his first season, scoring a stunning overtime winner. After carrying the puck, Yakemchuk went around both Jake McCabe and Mitch Marner to break through the Leafs end and hit Matt Murray with a reverse move. It was a brilliant goal to be celebrated.

🔴 CARTER YAKEMCHUK ⚫️

Great move by the young defender to win the game in extra time! pic.twitter.com/oLWEQEKkw4

— NHL (@NHL) September 23, 2024

As for the defensive team everyone says they need to work on, they still looked good. Yakemchuk was making smart readings of the defensive zone, as well as playing solidly against the opposition's rush. There's no doubt he'll still need to improve that defensively, and a one-game sample isn't really enough, but in those 23 minutes, he showed a lot of promise.

A nine-game trial before returning to the WHL looks more realistic than ever, and after a few preseason games, he could achieve that.

The NHL season is in full swing now, and with high hopes for the Senators, there will be a microscope on every detail. Be sure to check back for all the latest Senators news and rumors.