Ottawa Senators sign goalie Leevi Merilainen to one-year extension

The Ottawa Senators signed goalie Leevi Merilainen to a one-year contract extension for the 2026-27 NHL season ^[1].

The deal ensures the team has a designated backup goaltender after previous organizational strategies for the position failed to meet expectations. This move stabilizes the roster's depth in goal as the team prepares for the upcoming campaign.

Merilainen will earn $1.1 million ^[1] under the new terms. The agreement follows his longest single-season stint in the NHL, providing the player another opportunity to establish himself within the Ottawa system ^[1].

Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, said the signing was necessary. "The backup plan Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, put in place last season didn’t work," Staios said ^[2].

The decision to retain Merilainen suggests a pivot in strategy for the front office. While the team had explored other options to support starter Linus Ullmark, the organization decided to double down on Merilainen's potential ^[2].

"The Ottawa Senators haven’t given up on Leevi Merilainen," an unnamed source said ^[3].

Merilainen is now preparing for his next shot in Ottawa following the conclusion of his previous term ^[1]. The one-year duration of the contract provides the team with flexibility, while giving the athlete a chance to prove his consistency at the professional level.