Last season, goaltender Mads Sogaard had struggles in both the NHL with the Ottawa Senators and the AHL with the Belleville Senators. Sogaard suffered an injury in January that caused him to not play the remainder of last season.
This season, Sogaard is facing pressure with being on an expiring contract. If Sogaard underperforms again, the former second-round draft pick could have uncertainty with the Senators.
Sogaard will have to have a solid season in Belleville to show potential is still there at 24 years old. So far in two preseason games in Ottawa, Sogaard has looked better.
Sogaard has played steady in two preseason games
If Sogaard was to have a solid preseason, it can show not only improvement, but give him a chance to be Belleville's top goaltender on the depth chart for the upcoming season. Belleville has Sogaard, Jackson Parsons and Hunter Shepard in a three-goaltender battle for playing time.
So far, Sogaard's preseason play in Ottawa has helped him big to grow confidence and potentially be the starter in the season opener for Belleville in three days against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Sogaard has made two relief performances this preseason. In total, Sogaard has stopped 17-of-19 shots on goal combined, which is good for an .895 save percentage.
Sogaard made his 2025 preseason debut when the Senators fell 4-3 on Sept. 21 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the loss, Sogaard stopped 11-of-12 shots in the game after he relieved Linus Ullmark at the start of the second period.
Last night, Sogaard made his second relief performance in the Senators' ugly 7-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. After Leevi Merilainen allowed in six goals in 36:59, Sogaard was inserted. Sogaard made six saves in relief and was able to keep the score 6-1, that was until Dylan Holloway scored a goal with under one minute remaining in regulation.
It may be just two relief performances in the preseason, but Sogaard has shown improvement in those games with stopping 17-of-19 shots. If Sogaard carries his momentum over into the AHL, it will be another big stepping point for the Danish goaltender who needs a solid season.