Eichel on awarding game puck to Ullmark: 'We're one big family'

Ralph Krueger likes to pick his spots when it comes to addressing the Sabres after games. He decided Monday would be a good time, following the team's first victory of the season in Philadelphia.
Krueger addressed the team and then turned the floor over to captain Jack Eichel, who presented the game puck to goaltender Linus Ullmark. Hours earlier, Ullmark learned his father had passed away in Sweden.
"It was extremely emotional," Krueger said. "I want to say again that when he came to the locker room as the guys came off the ice, there wasn't a guy that didn't just give him a hug or whatever we're allowed to do to give him some contact and show we're there for him.
"It was an emotional moment. Definitely, you can see we are a club built on good people and it means a lot to us. I think these situations test our mettle and thus far I'm really proud of the way the team and Linus are dealing with it."

Ullmark opened up about the loss during a conversation published to Sabres.com on Thursday. He had been checking in back home since his father was hospitalized early last week and learned of his passing following the team's morning skate on Monday.

Ullmark did not play that night, instead using the time to begin dealing with his emotions. The Sabres skated to a convincing 6-1 victory and dedicated it to the goaltender afterward.
"You really can't come up with the words to make someone feel better in that situation, and so it's a little bit tougher even with the way things are currently in our world and not being able to be with his family," Eichel said. "So, I think more than anything your thoughts are with him and you just hope he'll be able to deal with this emotionally.
"But Linus is a big part of our team. I think everyone knows that. I think his play speaks for itself when he's in our net. But more than anything he's a part of our family here. That's what we are. We're one group, we're one big family in that locker room. More than anything, we care about each other. It's just one of the guys going through a tough time and you just want to be there to support him."
The moment was not lost on Ullmark.
"When they gave me the puck, it took all my might and my power to not break down completely in the locker room," he said.
Ullmark was back at practice on Thursday and traveled with the team for its road trip in Washington, with games on Friday and Saturday.

"These kinds of things, you need to process yourself and find your way back into some sort of routine," Krueger said. "We are very compassionate for what he went through and what he's going through and what he will go through. All I can say is the players have been terrific.
"He's been as strong as possible in the situation and we'll work together with him to move him forward with the memories of his dad on his path. It's definitely a tough one, but the team, the players, have been terrific in supporting."