The NHL's qualifying window has come and gone, and now we know who the Ottawa Senators decided to let walk to free agency and become an unrestricted free agent.
Heading into the day, the Senators had five players that were eligible for a qualifying offer (QO). Leevi Merilainen, Xavier Bourgault, Samuel Ersson, Arthur Kaliyev and Ryan Kideny. By the end of the day, only two players were left with a QO, leaving Ersson, Kaliyev and Kideny to become a UFA on July 1.
Senators make RFA decisions
Honestly, there wasn't a ton of surprise with Kaliyev and Kideny. Both were AHL forwards who weren't going to get a long look to make the NHL club and be replaced with younger forwards this season. That said, it is a bit more surprising to see Kailyev not receive a QO.
The 25-year-old had a great season in the AHL. He scored 40 goals and 28 assists for 68 points in 78 games.
That should have been a good enough season to get an opportunity at the NHL level. However, due to some personal matters, he wasn't able to get that chance. Now, he will look for another chance at the NHL, or as a two-way call-up in free agency.
The most shocking QO on paper is newly acquired Ersson. He was just dealt to the team on Friday before the 2026 NHL Draft. However, if they were to give him a QO, he had the right to file for arbitration, which didn't sit well with the organization.
Instead, they left him unqualified and will try and work on a deal when July 1 opens. If not with him, then another goalie that can serve as the club's backup. There has been talk that the Senators liked Connor Ingram and Stuart Skinner as backup goalies to Linus Ullmark. And that still could be true, even if they sign Ersson. He could be the third goalie, who flips between the NHL and AHL.
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