Senators sign Gabriel Eliasson to entry-level contract

Eliasson was taken by the Senators in the second round, 39th overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft. The first thing you notice about the Swedish blueliner is his size. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing around 220 pounds, he’s certainly a towering presence and uses that to try to intimidate opponents.

After working his way through HV71’s junior programs in Sweden, the Kungsbacka native came to North America to join the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. Eliasson was originally picked in the first round, 12th overall, by the Niagara IceDogs of the 2024 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, but his rights were traded to Barrie for a pair of draft picks prior to the 2024-25 season.

Despite being an above-average skater for his size, Eliasson isn’t really known for his offense. He scored no more than three points in either of his two seasons with the Colts, posting a career-best eight points during his rookie campaign last year. In 2025-26, he posted three goals and four assists for seven points. In 124 regular-season games, he scored five goals and 10 assists for 15 points.

Eliasson’s meanness is what he’s best known for. Back in his native Sweden, he was the most penalized player during the 2023-24 season in the country’s Under-20 junior league, amassing 103 PIM in just 36 games. With the Colts, he hit the century mark in peanlty minutes each year, including leading the OHL with 122 this season. He was credited with six fighting majors across his two campaigns in the OHL.

Eilasson has represented his country on the international stage a couple of times. He won bronze with Tre Kronor at the 2024 Under-18 Men’s World Championship, having also played for the team at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.