Ottawa Senators and Linus Ullmark leave of absence news turned ugly online, so the team put its foot down.

Ullmark, the former Boston Bruins starter, has been away from Ottawa since Sunday for personal reasons, with the club initially saying it would not provide further comment.

That silence didn't last, because social media did what it always does when details are missing. By Thursday morning, the Senators issued a blunt statement aimed at what they called “completely fabricated and false stories” spreading online.

The message was clear and direct, Ullmark is away “for personal reasons” and has the organization's support, and people should respect his privacy. It was not a hockey ops update, it was a human one.

The fact the statement came from Steve Staios also mattered, because it signals Ottawa viewed the rumor wave as damaging, not just annoying noise. This was leadership trying to shut a door fast.

Linus Ullmark leave forces Ottawa Senators response

As a Bruins fan, I hate that a goalie's private life became content, because nobody deserves that spotlight.

On the hockey side, Ullmark is still Ottawa's No. 1 when available, and the numbers show how much he's been leaned on. He's 14-8-5 with a 2.95 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage.

His absence also isn't small financially, because Ottawa committed to him long-term. Ullmark is in a four-year deal with an $8.25 million cap hit, a figure listed the same on PuckPedia and NHL.com.

That's why the Senators went out of their way to draw a boundary. They can survive a few games with backup plans, but they can't let a locker room get dragged into internet fiction.

For Bruins fans, it's another reminder of the person behind the mask. The next milestone shouldn't be a rumor update, it should be Ullmark returning when he's ready, on his terms.