Linus Ullmark

Last Season

Forty-nine appearances, 28-12-8, a 2.73 goals-against average and a .8907 save percentage with three shutouts. His career figure across 340 games is .9138 — a gap of twenty-three thousandths.

The Physical Game

Six foot four, 223, and he plays big and deep, letting the puck find him rather than challenging out. Against a club that concedes the fewest dangerous chances in the league, that ought to be ideal.

The lateral movement is where it goes wrong. He is beaten across the crease more than a goaltender of his reputation should be, and the rebound control has never been the strong part.

The Mental Game

A Vezina winner three seasons ago, and a man who has now had two ordinary years since leaving Boston. Twenty-eight wins behind this defence is the record you would expect from a considerably worse goaltender.

Over his last ten, .903 on 257 shots — his best stretch of the season, and still under the league median.

The Intangibles

This is the most striking club page in the book. Ottawa finished first in the National Hockey League in even-strength expected goals against, conceding 139.9 at five-on-five — the fewest of any team.

It allowed 163.

The goaltending came in thirty-three goals worse than the chances it faced, fourth-worst in the league. Ullmark at .8907, Ersson at .8696 and Merilainen at .860; the league median was .896 and not one of the three reached it.

He is 33. A club built this well in front of the net has not had a season this badly wasted anywhere in this edition.