Leevi Merilainen: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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Goaltending is a funny business. One week, you're the guy your team trusts to win games. A few rough outings later, people are wondering whether someone else should get the next start.

Vancouver Canucks News / NHL Trade Talk / October 13

Canucks goalie gets stuck with one of hockey’s oddest losses

Every now and then, hockey gives us a story that makes you stop and ask, “Wait, what just happened?” Saturday’s Vancouver Canucks game against the New Jersey Devils gave us one of those moments.

Vancouver Canucks News / The Hockey Writers / October 10

Canucks News & Rumours: Merilainen Earns a Chance & Romani at Michigan State

A couple of interesting stories are developing around the Vancouver Canucks, and neither requires us to get too carried away just yet. One involves a goaltending situation that could change quickly if the current trend continues.

Ottawa Senators News / SenShot / September 25

Senators make immediate move after losing Merilainen on waivers

The Ottawa Senators had a busy Friday afternoon. GM Steve Staios was forced to make an immediate move following a tough decision from earlier in the week.

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / September 25

Merilainen Claimed by Canucks, Tanev, Comrie Among 61 Players Placed on Waivers – 09/25/2026

As the NHL’s condensed training camp and preseason continue and the regular season approaches, teams are beginning to make significant cuts to their rosters, including placing players on waivers.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The biggest draft bust for every NHL team

People love a good mid-round draft pick that pans out, and in the NHL you used to see those fairly often, but that’s obviously partially luck. If the Red Wings thought Nicklas Lidstrom was going to become a top-five defenseman in history, they wouldn’t have waited until the 53rd pick to take him.

NHL News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 25

Canucks Claim Leevi Merilainen From Senators

The Vancouver Canucks have become the first team to make a claim on the preseason waiver wire. Vancouver has claimed goaltender Leevi Merilainen off of waivers from the Ottawa Senators, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Vancouver Canucks News / Canucksarmy / September 25

Canucks claim goaltender Leevi Meriläinen off NHL waivers

The Vancouver Canucks have made their first waiver claim of the season. On Friday, GM Ryan Johnson announced that the club has claimed goaltender Leevi Meriläinen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators.

Ottawa Senators News / Professor Press Box / September 24

Senators Place Goalie Leevi Merilainen on Waivers

A few things in hockey interest an old fan. And putting a young goalie on waivers is one of them. The Ottawa Senators placed Leevi Merilainen on waivers Thursday, and that caught my attention.

Ottawa Senators News / Professor Press Box / July 3

Leevi Merilainen Signs a One-Year Deal, but Nothing Guaranteed

The Ottawa Senators have brought back goaltender Leevi Merilainen on a one-year, $1.1 million contract. It’s a move that feels more like a “we’ll see” than a long-term commitment.

Ottawa Senators News / NHL on ClutchPoints / July 3

Senators re-sign goalie to one-year contract extension

The Ottawa Senators have signed goaltender Leevi Merilainen to a one-year contract extension for the 2026-27 NHL season, president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios announced Thursday.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Ottawa Senators News / Daily Faceoff / July 2

Senators re-sign Leevi Merilainen to one-year contract

The Ottawa Senators have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with restricted free agent goaltender Leevi Merilainen, the club announced Thursday afternoon.

Ottawa Senators News / Daily Faceoff / June 21

Should Leevi Merilainen still be the backup for the Senators?

There are several questions surrounding the Ottawa Senators heading into the offseason, especially between the pipes. While Linus Ullmark is the unquestioned starter, there’s a lot of concern for who will be backing him up next season.

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Ottawa Senators News / Daily Faceoff / March 21

Road ahead to make playoffs is a tough one for Senators

The Ottawa Senators made the playoffs last season for the first time in several years, but as we approach the end of the 2025-26 regular season, it’s looking less and less likely that they’ll return to the dance.

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Ottawa Senators News / The Hockey Writers / January 21

Ottawa Senators Need to Keep Playing Leevi Merilainen

2025-26 has not been a good season for Leevi Merilainen. After Linus Ullmark took a leave of absence from the team, the Ottawa Senators were forced to rely heavily on their rookie backup, and it did not go well.

Ottawa Senators News / Daily Faceoff / January 21

‘Embarrassed’ Jake Sanderson apologized to Leevi Merilainen for postgame comments

A player is walking back his comments regarding one of his teammates. On Tuesday, Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson told the media that he had apologized to goaltender Leevi Meriläinen for his remarks following a 6-5 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Ottawa Senators News / Professor Press Box / January 20

Sanderson Apologizes to Merilainen After Heated Comments

Hockey’s intense. You’re racing, checking, thinking five moves ahead. But when things go wrong, emotions spill over. That’s what happened with Jake Sanderson after the Ottawa Senators’ recent 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

Ottawa Senators News / Pro Hockey Rumors / January 20

Senators Recall Hunter Shepard, Reassign Leevi Merilainen

There are more moving parts between the pipes for the Ottawa Senators. The Senators announced that they’ve recalled netminder Hunter Shepard from the AHL’s Belleville Senators and reassigned Leevi Merilainen in a corresponding roster move.

Ottawa Senators News / Daily Faceoff / January 19

What has been the cause of Leevi Merilainen’s struggles?

Things have not been going well in the nation’s capital, and the man behind the mask is wearing the brunt of the team’s criticism. The Ottawa Senators have gone from a team projected to be in the top three in the Atlantic Division to a squad that might be in the running for a lottery spot.

Ottawa Senators News / Daily Faceoff / January 18

‘You’ve got to make more than 10 saves to win a game’: Senators’ Sanderson on Merilainen’s struggles

The problems continue to pile up for the Ottawa Senators. The last two weeks have been straight out of a nightmare for the Senators, largely related to their goaltending, whether the problem has been on the ice or off it.

Ottawa Senators News / Pro Hockey Rumors / October 19, 2025

Senators recall Mads Sogaard, reassign Leevi Merilainen

The Ottawa Senators have swapped which goalie will hold the backup’s role on their NHL roster. Per an official team announcement, netminder Leevi Merilainen has been reassigned to their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, while Mads Sogaard has been recalled.

Ottawa Senators News / The Hockey Writers / September 5, 2025

Senators 2025-26 Player Preview: Leevi Merilainen

With the 2025-26 season approaching quickly, it is time to start looking at what the Ottawa Senators have to work with. They finally made it back to the playoffs, but this season is going to be about building off the success they found last season.

Ottawa Senators News / Pro Hockey Rumors / April 19, 2025

Senators recall season's unsung hero for playoff run

The 22-year-old certainly impressed in his limited NHL action this season.

Senators’ Brady Tkachuk leaves game against Hurricanes for precautionary reasons

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Ottawa Senators News / The Hockey Writers / February 19, 2025

Ottawa Senators Prospect of the Week – Leevi Merilainen

While the Ottawa Senators were busy with the 4 Nations Face-Off last week, their prospects had a field day on the long weekend. Eight players recorded at least a point per game last week with four more falling just one below, and two of the three goalies who played recorded at least one shutout.

Ottawa Senators News / Breakaway on SI / January 19, 2025

Rookie Goalie Keeping Senators Playoff Hopes Alive

While the Ottawa Senators navigate the second half of the regular season without their starting goalie, their playoff hopes remain alive. That's in no small part due to the play of their rookie goaltender Leevi Merilainen, who has helped the team bring their record to 23-18-4 through 45 games.

Ottawa Senators News / Field Level Media / January 14, 2025