In addition to experiencing difficulties on the ice, the Ottawa Senators had to face, despite themselves, nasty rumors concerning certain players on the team.
Even though general manager Steve Staios was quick to deny this gossip on Thursday, denouncing “trolls and deranged people” as well as “external forces trying to disrupt our club,” captain Brady Tkachuk in turn stepped up to defend his teammates.
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“I don’t think anyone is happy to see this kind of narrative being spread,” Tkachuk explained at a press briefing on Saturday. “It’s okay that people criticize our performance on the ice, but when it comes to family, it’s frankly rubbish.”
Goalkeeper Linus Ullmark, absent since December 28 for personal reasons, finds himself at the center of this controversy. The number 7 of the Senators wanted to offer him all his support.
“Frankly, I feel bad for Linus,” he continued. “No one knows what he’s going through. But the simple fact that he has to deal with it, and even think about it…”
“All we care about is that he gets what he needs. We told him from day one that he had our support. Now that he [doive] to face that, it’s just mind-blowing.”
The Senators will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Florida Panthers at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Ottawa team has lost its last three games, including the most recent by a score of 8-2 against the Colorado Avalanche.
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