Ottawa Senators Summary

The Ottawa Senators have made significant moves this week, re-signing goalie Leevi Merilainen to a one-year contract worth $1.1 million, a slight increase from his previous salary. Merilainen, 23, had an 8-10-1 record with an .860 save percentage in 20 NHL games last season, and he also played 19 games in the AHL with a .909 save percentage.

This signing consolidates the Senators' goaltender position, now featuring Merilainen, Linus Ullmark, and new acquisition Samuel Ersson all under contract for the 2026-27 season. Additionally, the Senators acquired forward Sammy Blais from the Montreal Canadiens, signing him to a two-way contract.

Blais spent the previous season primarily with the Laval Rocket in the AHL, where he recorded 14 goals and 24 assists in 35 games. The Senators are also engaging fans with a new promotion allowing them to exchange old Brady Tkachuk jerseys for discounts in the team store, following Tkachuk's recent trade to the Florida Panthers.

This initiative aims to foster community spirit among fans amid the changes. As the Senators prepare for training camp, they will likely have three goalies on one-way contracts, a strategy that has become more common in the NHL, especially given Ullmark's past injury history, which raises questions about their roster decisions moving forward.