Jonas Johansson’s NHL Return Lasted About a Day, Triggered by Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark Injury

The NHL’s goaltending carousel moved fast on Thursday, when a reported injury to Ottawa Senators starter Linus Ullmark opened a temporary roster spot for Jonas Johansson, the former Colorado Avalanche goaltender now looking for another chance at the highest level. According to Yahoo Sports, Johansson was recalled and returned to the NHL, but his time in the league lasted only about 24 hours.

For Johansson, the recall represented more than a procedural transaction. As a veteran goalie who has previously been part of the Avalanche organization, his appearance offered a quick snapshot of how NHL teams manage uncertainty between the pipes, especially when an established starter goes down. In a sport where one goalie start can swing game plans and defensive matchups, a short-term replacement can become a high-leverage staffing decision even when it is expected to be temporary.

Ottawa’s immediate need was tied to Ullmark’s injury, which created the conditions for Johansson’s NHL call-up. Ullmark’s role as the Senators’ starter meant the team needed a ready option to cover the gap. The report framed Johansson’s recall as a direct response to that injury situation, with Johansson staying in the league only briefly before moving out of the spotlight as quickly as he had returned to it.

Because the story centers on a recall and how long it lasted, it also underscores the volatility that comes with NHL bench management early in the season. Teams typically plan for longer stretches with their primary and backup goaltenders, but injuries can force rapid adjustments. When that happens, a goalie’s “second life” in the NHL can be brief, depending on how quickly the injured starter is able to return or how the team decides to balance its depth.

For the Senators, the larger takeaway is the operational impact of any starter injury. Even if a replacement is competent, the disruption can affect practice rhythms, defensive pair chemistry, and how the coaching staff structures minutes and matchups. For Johansson, the brief duration is a reminder that opportunities can appear quickly in the NHL, but they also close quickly, particularly when the original need is expected to be short term.

What to watch next is whether Johansson’s short stint turns into additional depth consideration with Ottawa or elsewhere, and whether Ullmark’s injury resolves on a timeline that allows the Senators to stabilize their goaltending plan. In the near term, the team’s next goaltending decisions will likely reflect both health updates and how Ottawa wants to shape its immediate schedule and game preparation.