Senators sign Hunter Shepard, Jackson Parsons and Hayden Hodgson to deals

The Ottawa Senators were busy on Wednesday, signing goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward Hayden Hodgson to two-way contracts.

The team also signed goaltender Jackson Parsons to a three-year entry-level contract, and officially announced the deals for Arthur Kaliyev, Wyatt Bongiovanni and Olle Lycksell.

Shepard, 29, made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals last year, allowing seven goals in a crushing 7-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 12. Shepard went 23-11-4 with three shutouts and a .891 save percentage with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. It was a big step down statistically compared to when he went 27-4-3 with five shutouts and a .929 save percentage the year prior. He was named top goaltender in the AHL in 2023-24, and won consecutive Calder Cups with the Bears – even earning himself playoff MVP honors in 2023. Shepard is expected to split the net in Belleville with Mads Sogaard for 2025-26.

Hodgson, meanwhile, will head back to Belleville after registering five goals, 11 points and 156 penalty minutes in 43 games. Known for his tough, bruising presence, Hodgson has three points and 16 penalty minutes in nine career NHL games.

Parsons, meanwhile, is an undrafted free agent signing after finishing his fourth year with the Kitchener Rangers. He went 37-12-3 with five shutouts and a .920 save percentage in 2024-25, earning him OHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year honors, among other notable awards this season. Parsons became the first OHLer to commit to the NCAA after the restrictions were lifted earlier this year, committing to Clarkson University for 2025-26.

Ottawa finished the 2024-25 season with a 45-30-7 with 97 points, fourth in the Atlantic Division and clinching the No. 1 wild-card spot. They were eliminated in six games by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.