The 2025 NHL free agency period kicked off three weeks ago. While many teams made headline-grabbing moves, the Ottawa Senators experienced a relatively quiet summer. However, that doesn’t mean there were no significant player departures. Here’s a detailed recap of key exits and how the Senators addressed each gap.
The most notable departure was goaltender Anton Forsberg, who signed with the Los Angeles Kings. Since being claimed off waivers in 2021, Forsberg had been a consistent presence in Ottawa’s net. His backup role this season is expected to be handled by the promising Levi Merileinen, who played 12 games last year and will turn 23 soon, making him one of the NHL’s youngest goalies this season.
With Forsberg leaving and injury concerns lingering, Ottawa signed two new goalies: Hunter Shepard from the Washington Capitals organization and undrafted free agent Jackson Parsons, who aims to compete for playing time with Shepard and Mads Saw Guard.
Forward Adam Gaudette had a breakout year, earning a two-year contract worth $2 million annually with the San Jose Sharks after scoring a career-high 19 goals. Although fans appreciated him, the Senators were careful about his ice time. His role will likely be taken over by NHL veteran Lars Eller, who recently signed a one-year deal with Ottawa.
On defense, Travis Hamonic, who had been with the Senators for over three years, wasn’t re-signed and remains a free agent. His spot was filled when Ottawa traded for LA Kings defenseman Jordan Pence. Players like Spence and Nik Matinpalo are expected to have bigger roles this season, especially if Nick Jensen is unavailable. Top prospect Carter Yakemchuk may push for a pro spot this fall, potentially shaking up the lineup.
Several other players who contributed last season have moved on: Matthew Highmore signed with the New York Islanders, and Cole Reinhardt is now with the Vegas Golden Knights. Their places on the depth chart were taken by free agent signings Arthur Kaliyev (from NYR) and Olle Lycksell (from PHI), both of whom saw significant NHL playing time last season. Kaliyev, once a highly rated OHL goal scorer, was a regular with the LA Kings before his time with New York.
Other departures include Angus Crookshank, who joined the New Jersey Devils, and defenseman Dennis Gilbert, who signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. Ottawa re-signed original first-round pick Lassiet Thomson, who played in Sweden last season but whose rights remained with the Senators.
The Senators still have some restricted free agents to sign, including forward Jan Zhenic and defensemen Max Guenette and Donovan Sebrango. Belleville’s blue line is set to be quite young this season, especially with veteran Jeremy Davis moving to Las Vegas. Belleville also has limited forward contracts beyond this season.
Overall, while Ottawa’s summer signings weren’t headline-grabbing, the acquisition of Fabian Zetterlund and Dylan Cozens at the trade deadline should not be overlooked. The team also wisely re-signed Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, and Zetterlund, rounding out the roster. Now that the dust has settled, Senators fans can look forward to seeing if this mature core can make the next step forward.
Fan Take: This offseason shows the Senators’ commitment to blending youth with experience, signaling a cautious but hopeful rebuilding approach. Hockey fans should watch closely, as Ottawa’s moves could mark the beginning of a new competitive era for the team in the coming seasons.
