Senators Sign Leevi Merilainen: What’s Next for Ottawa’s Goaltending Plans?

The Ottawa Senators have taken a significant step in their goaltending strategy by signing Leevi Merilainen to a one-year, $1.1 million contract for the 2026-27 season. This one-way deal could have critical implications for the team’s roster decisions as they head into training camp, especially since Merilainen was also arbitration-eligible. However, after a challenging season, it’s likely that an arbitration case might not have favored the young Finnish netminder.

Merilainen began last season as the clear backup to Linus Ullmark, having shown considerable promise during a brief NHL appearance in the 2024-25 season. Unfortunately, his opportunity dwindled due to subpar performances early on, resulting in an 8-10-1 record, a 3.51 goals-against average, and an .860 save percentage over 20 games. As his confidence faded, the Senators opted for veteran James Reimer, who had joined the team as a free agent just before the season. Reimer effectively stabilized the goaltending situation, retaining the backup role through the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs while Merilainen returned to the Belleville Senators.

Back in the AHL, Merilainen rebounded, showcasing the potential Ottawa had hoped for at the start of the year. He finished with an 8-8-1 record in 19 games, posting a 2.77 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. Drafted in the third round (71st overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Merilainen has played 34 NHL games and has a solid AHL record of 39-29-6, with a 2.59 goals-against average and .911 save percentage across 84 games.

His new contract raises an intriguing question: Could the Senators consider carrying three goaltenders on their NHL roster next season? This strategy has gained traction in the league, notably utilized by the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes. Given Ullmark’s history—having never started more than 50 games in a single season and dealing with injury issues—the idea of a three-goalie system could be particularly appealing to Ottawa. Ullmark has been candid about his mental health challenges, and managing his workload will be crucial for the Senators to get the best out of him.

By keeping Merilainen alongside Ullmark and newcomer Samuel Ersson, head coach Travis Green would have considerable flexibility and depth in goal should injuries arise. However, this arrangement may not align with the ideal development path for the 23-year-old Merilainen.

Should the Senators opt against carrying three goaltenders, they will face a tough decision. Notably, both Merilainen and Ersson are not waiver-exempt, meaning they would need to clear waivers before being assigned to Belleville. The Senators appear unwilling to lose Merilainen without a return, as indicated by the one-way contract that suggests they still believe in his potential to become an NHL goaltender. The real challenge now lies in determining how he fits into their plans moving forward.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.