Senators sign goalie Leevi Meriläinen to one-year contract extension

The Ottawa Senators announced on Monday that general manager Steve Staios and the team have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with goaltender Leevi Meriläinen.

The deal, which is a one-way contract, will pay Meriläinen $1.05 million for his services in the 2025-2026 campaign.

In his limited appearances during the 2024-2025 season, Meriläinen became something of a sensation for the Senators, putting up an 8-3-1 record with three shutouts to go with his 1.99 goals against average and .925 save percentage.

Just 22 years of age, Meriläinen’s contributions were crucial in helping the Senators secure their first bid to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2017.

Ottawa fell in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Battle of Ontario in six games, with the Sens getting halfway to a reverse sweep before Toronto got the job done.

While with the team’s AHL affiliate in Belleville, Meriläinen excelled as well. He went 18-12-4 with four shutouts and a .913 save percentage as the minor league Senators went 34-27-6-5, narrowly missing the Calder Cup playoffs.

With the deal being a one-way contract, Meriläinen will have every opportunity to earn the full-time role as the team’s backup goaltender behind star Linus Ullmark.

Ullmark started 44 games for the Senators last year, his first season with the team after signing a lucrative contract with a cap hit of $8.25 million.

The team’s other netminder, veteran Swede Anton Forsberg, is set to hit unrestricted free agency when the market opens on Tuesday.

As of Monday afternoon, Ottawa has about $7.1 million in salary cap space, assuming Meriläinen ends up on the active roster in Forsberg’s spot.

Staios and the Senators took care of some big business on Sunday, securing veteran Claude Giroux’s return to the team with a one-year, bonus-laden deal.