Since the 2017-18 season, goaltending has been a major issue with the Ottawa Senators. At the 2020 NHL Draft, the Senators selected Leevi Merilainen with the 71st overall pick from Oulu, Finland.
The Senators were struggling finding their goaltender of the future after Craig Anderson. To finally find a goaltender that can help win games, the Senators traded for 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins in June 2024.
However, Ullmark has been injured since Dec. 22. Anton Forsberg is struggling again this season as Ullmark's backup. Forsberg was injured on Dec. 14 and that led to Merilainen getting recalled up from the AHL in Belleville. With his play this season and both Forsberg and Mads Sogaard struggling, the Senators could have a plan in place for Merilainen for the future to elevate him.
Merilainen could be perfect backup for Ullmark in the future
After only playing in two games in the 2022-23 season for the Senators, Merilainen has made the most of his opportunity in the NHL this season. In five games played this season with four of them being starts, Merilainen is 3-2-0 with a 2.42 goals against average and .911 save percentage.
Yesterday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Merilainen recorded his first career shutout. In five games this season, Merilainen has shown more improvement than Forsberg and Sogaard. With Merilainen improving quickly at 22 years old, the Senators could have a perfect plan in place to have Merilainen be Ullmark's backup for years to come. It rightfully can happen.
Forsberg is an unrestricted free agent after this season at 31 years old. With Forsberg's struggles this season, it's putting the Senators in a tough position to bring him back when the season concludes. Forsberg is 4-7-1 this season with a 3.03 goals against average and .888 save percentage.
Sogaard has struggled deeply again this season as well. In two NHL games this season, Sogaard is 1-1-0 with a 5.24 goals against average and .800 save percentage. In the AHL this season, Sogaard has an awful 0-5-1 record with a 3.69 goals against average and .858 save percentage. Sogaard allowed in four goals on 12 shots on goal in just over 22 minutes in his last AHL start this past Friday.
With Sogaard struggling deeply, especially after his last AHL start, the Senators might have to consider moving on from the 24-year-old. Sogaard does have one year left on his contract at $775,000.
The Senators rightfully want Ullmark to be the goaltender of the future at 31 years old. Ullmark is 12-7-2 with a 2.38 goals against average and .915 save percentage. However, with Merilainen's success in five starts and continuing to improve, Merilainen could serve as a solid backup for Ullmark in the future.
Ullmark's four-year extension begins next season and Merilainen is a restricted free agent after this season. Bringing back Merilainen would help him continue to learn from Ullmark, which would Merilainen learn and mature more at his young age. Merilainen and Ullmark could also potentially form a perfect goaltending duo if Merilainen continues to improve, just as Ullmark had a good duo in Boston with Jeremy Swayman.