The 2024-25 season saw a huge breakthrough for Ottawa Senators prospect Leevi Merilainen. In 12 NHL games at 22 years old, Merilainen recorded an 8-3-1 record with a 1.99 goals against average and .925 save percentage. Merilainen was solid throughout 2024-25 in the AHL as well with the Belleville Senators. Merilainen re-signed with the Senators on a one-year contract on June 30.
Anton Forsberg is no longer a Senator after he signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings. With Forsberg gone, Merilainen has a chance to thrive as Linus Ullmark's backup.
That puts Sens prospect Mads Sogaard in a desperate position as a 24-year-old goaltender. For the 2025-26 season, it will be time to put up or shut up for Sogaard.
Sogaard desperately needs huge season in 2025-26
Sogaard's career NHL stats are underperforming. In 29 NHL games with 25 of them being starts, Sogaard has recorded an 11-11-3 record with a 3.55 goals against average and .879 save percentage. In the 2024-25 season, Sogaard played in just two NHL games and recorded a 1-1-0 record with a 5.24 goals against average and .800 save percentage.
Belleville also saw struggles from Soogard. When the 2024-25 season concluded, Sogaard recorded an 0-5-1 record with a 3.69 goals against average and .858 save percentage.
Sogaard's last AHL start was brutal when he allowed in four goals in just over 22 minutes in a January game. After that start, Sogaard missed the remainder of the season with an injury.
As the 2025-26 season is months away, Sogaard will need a huge season. Sogaard is entering the final year of his restricted contract at $775,000. If Sogaard struggles deeply again as he did in 2024-25, it could be possible the Senators may not want to re-sign him when the season concludes.
If Sogaard does struggle, an idea the Senators could have is try and trade him during the season. Being on an expiring contract can help Sogaard make him trade worthy.
Even with struggles, general manager Steve Staios said he still feels "comfortable" with Sogaard. Staios said that when talking about re-signing Forsberg or not, and he could go to either Sogaard or Merilainen to be the backup for Ullmark in 2025-26.
Belleville does have 20-year-old Jackson Parsons and 29-year-old Hunter Shepard as other goaltender options to bring competition for Soogard. With having two other goaltenders to battle, Sogaard will need to stand out.
Sogaard hasn't lived up to being a second-round draft pick as a goaltender. Sogaard was taken with the 37th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Now, 2025-26 will be a pivotal season for the Danish goaltender, but Sogaard will have the chance to be Belleville's number one goaltender.