The Ottawa Senators currently have a solid goaltending outlook. For the 2025-26 NHL season, Linus Ullmark and Leevi Meriläinen are expected to be the main goalies, with the possibility of three netminders filling the top two AHL spots in Belleville. Mads Søgaard, who is guaranteed an NHL salary this year regardless of where he plays, likely sees himself as a contender for the starting role. Veteran goalie Hunter Shepard, who joined from the Washington Capitals and has won consecutive AHL championships in 2023 and 2024, might hold an edge over the younger Jackson Parsons for the second spot in Belleville.
This newfound stability marks a significant shift from previous seasons when Ottawa’s goaltending was anything but steady. The wild 2022-23 NHL season saw an unprecedented 13 different goalies take ice time for the Senators. It began with hope as the team brought in Cam Talbot from Minnesota, deemed a dependable veteran, but after an injury in training camp and lackluster performance, he led the team in games played (36) but was not re-signed.
Talbot was just one in a string of goaltenders who failed to bring the needed consistency, including players like Matt Murray and Jonas Korpisalo. Anton Forsberg suffered a devastating injury in February, tearing the MCL in both knees, cutting his season short. This forced young Mads Søgaard into a larger role, where he played 19 NHL games but also sustained injuries.
The season was a revolving door of goalies: Kevin Mandolese, Dylan Ferguson, Leevi Meriläinen, and Magnus Hellberg all made appearances, resulting in seven different goaltenders in a single NHL season. The AHL affiliate Belleville saw even more turnover, using 10 different goalies across the year.
This chaotic year will be remembered by Sens fans as a legendary, if unfortunate, chapter in the team’s history. Thankfully, the organization now appears to have a more stable and promising goaltending future.
Fan Take: This news is vital for hockey fans because goaltending stability is crucial to a team’s success, and Ottawa’s transformation signals a stronger future. For the sport, it highlights how important depth and resilience are in handling injuries and roster challenges, setting a model for managing goalie development.
