
Who doesn’t love a pre-season trade?
On Friday evening, the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning announced that goaltender Jonas Johansson was sent to the Senators in exchange for future considerations. This is a depth move for the Senators, as netminder Leevi Meriläinen was claimed off waivers.
TRADE ALERT: The #Sens have acquired Jonas Johansson from @TBLightning in exchange for future considerations. pic.twitter.com/SNiwtjINxk
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 25, 2026
Johansson, 31, was drafted 61st overall in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, making his debut with the team in 2019-20. Over six games, he posted an .894 save percentage. He split his 2020-21 season between the Sabres and Avalanche, then appeared for the Florida Panthers and Avalanche in 2021-22. After three games with the Avalanche in 2022-23, Johansson finally carved out a role in the NHL as a backup.
In 2023-24, the Swede served as the Lightning’s backup netminder, posting an .890 save percentage and 3.37 goals against average in a career-high 26 games. The following season saw him post an .895 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average in 19 games, followed by an .884 save percentage and 3.29 goals against average in 25 games last season.
This season, Linus Ullmark is expected to be the starting netminder for the Senators, with Samuel Ersson serving as the back up according to Daily Faceoff’s daily line tool.
Unsurprisingly, this generation’s best player, Macklin Celebrini, has been named as the next captain of the San Jose Sharks.
From one Sharks captain to another. Joe Thornton presented Macklin Celebrini with the C. pic.twitter.com/iqPYRsN2tW
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 25, 2026
Celebrini was selected first overall by the Sharks in 2024 after winning the Hobey Baker with Boston University in 2023-24. His rookie campaign went swimmingly, scoring 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games, but Celebrini’s breakout season came in 2025-26.
Over 82 games with the rebuilding Sharks, the 20-year-old (then 19) scored 45 goals and 115 points. Not only did he finish fourth in point-scoring and goals, but the forward represented Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics, helping the team capture the silver medal.
Celebrini is now the 14th captain in Sharks’ history, replacing Logan Couture who served as the captain from 2019-20. The Sharks have a long lineage of captains, especially since their nearly 20-year window of contention to start the 21st century. Owen Nolan, Patrick Marleau, Rob Blake, Joe Thornton, and Joe Pavelski have served as captains since the 2000-01 season, talk about franchise icons.
On Friday, the National Hockey League announced that Seattle Kraken defenceman Ville Ottavainen has received a fine worth a little under $2,200 after an altercation with Calgary Flames forward Brennan Othmann.
Don't like this from Ville Ottavainen.
He takes a routine hit from Othmann, then pulls him down by the head and feeds him punches while he's defenseless. pic.twitter.com/F31f0oADtL
— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) September 25, 2026
The fine stems from a second period altercation on Thursday, as Othmann finished his check in the corner. Ottavaninen took Othmann to the ice, and started punching the defenceless player before Flames’ defenceman Brayden Pachal jumped in and a scrum ensued.
While this specific fine stems from Thursday’s game, there’s history between the two players. Early in the Flames’ pre-season opener last Saturday, Othmann caught Ottavainen up high with an elbow, receiving a game misconduct as well as 20 penalty minutes in just 53 seconds of action. Othmann went unpunished following the game.
Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFO Calgary, DFO Edmonton, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.
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