Zak MacMillan: RFA Profile - Leevi Merilainen Finnish goaltender Leevi Merilainen is the only pending restricted free agent goaltender for the Ottawa Senators this summer. The Oulu native was selected 71st overall in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft to round out maybe the best draft of the Pierre Dorion regime. The goalie was at the conclusion of his entry-level contract that was signed in 2021.

My bold prediction is that Merilainen will win the starters job in the 2026/2027 season. Not because Ullmark will be bad but because Merilainen is just better. I assume he will be the backup next year, but it would be nice to have him marinate one more year – at least for the first part of the season.

I was a little annoyed that Dorion took this guy so early in the draft, but he has all the tools to be a great goaltender.

While I believe that Merilainen has earned the shot at back-up, there is always risks with goalies. He is still young by goalie standards. I would not be adverse to re-signing Forsberg for 1 year contract. However, I think there are teams out there that could easily give him a 2 year or 3 year contract (as a back-up). In that case, Forsberg would have to accept a contract like that.
My concern is that Ullmark hasn't shown he can stay healthy and mentally sharp in the net. Merilainen will have to be able to play maybe around 35 games. Is he ready?
Then there is Sogaard who will now have to clear waivers to be sent down to Belleville. We could quickly find ourselves in another goalie crunch if Ullmark gets injured. So maybe having Forsberg for part of a year (trade him later in year) isn't such a bad thing.

Spending $2million on a backup goalie is a little much. Especially one that only has a 12 game resume.

Sign him for a 2 year, $1.5 million prove it deal.

Other problem is Mads is on a one way league min deal next year. Sens can easily bury that but it will still cost them

Once all these RFA/UFA signings happen, at what the pundits believe, there is not much cap space left over to go big winger hunter. Nor is there a roster slot, if you believe Batherson and Giroux AND Zetterlund deserve top 6 (or event top 9) line spots.

Every little million will count this year....

Had a discussion with a buddy today and we came to the consensus that unless the Sens land Ehlers, they may want to just re sign their UFAs and RFAs and fill the roster that way, or internally. Save some cap space THEN make a big move at the TDL, assuming we are in a playoff spot.

https://www.dailyfaceoff....ik-karlsson-morgan-rielly

Jonathan Marchessault is interesting. He is the right position (pun intended) and the right price.

But if the Sens sign him, it all but eliminates them from signing both Giroux AND Zetterlund. Or Gaudette.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhl-trade-targets-board-frank-seravalli-2025-offseason-jj-peterka-rasmus-andersson-erik-karlsson-morgan-rielly

Jonathan Marchessault is interesting. He is the right position (pun intended) and the right price.

But if the Sens sign him, it all but eliminates them from signing both Giroux AND Zetterlund. Or Gaudette.
- GrimmdaGoalie

I think it would be a mistake to not resign Zetterlund. He is a bowling ball and skates and plays a hard, physical game. We depended way too much on Brady to provide all the physical jam. The addition of Dylan Cozens, Zetterlund and Nick Cousins (returning from injury) made the Sens a tough match for anyone coming down the stretch.
I would like to see them try Zetterlund with Stutzle and Tkachuk. I think he would open up more space for Timmy and Brady.

I think it would be a mistake to not resign Zetterlund. He is a bowling ball and skates and plays a hard, physical game. We depended way too much on Brady to provide all the physical jam. The addition of Dylan Cozens, Zetterlund and Nick Cousins (returning from injury) made the Sens a tough match for anyone coming down the stretch.
I would like to see them try Zetterlund with Stutzle and Tkachuk. I think he would open up more space for Timmy and Brady.
- spatso

I agree. That's why you spent the 2nd round on him. And that's where he should slot.

But that pushes Giroux down the 3rd line. At best. Would Claude go for that?

I agree. That's why you spent the 2nd round on him. And that's where he should slot.

But that pushes Giroux down the 3rd line. At best. Would Claude go for that?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Its a bit of a logjam as you have Perron, Zetterlund and Giroux who all serve similar purposes, and one of them is going to have to be the odd man out,. Unless you put one of each of the three lines and bump Amadio to the 4th line, which is doable.

Someone suggested putting Cozens on the wing which is intriguing. Pinto has the potential to be a second line center but he would need to find a little more offence. Could be a matter of just playing in that role with better line mates as I think he was more relied upon defensively last year.

In the end, with all of this, it all depends on what Giroux and Zetterlund are asking for in terms of salary and term.