While the Ottawa Senators are in the 2025 playoffs, the same can't be said for team's AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators. After making the 2024 playoffs, Belleville will miss out on the 2025 playoffs.
Belleville finished the 2024-25 season with a 34-27-6-5 overall record, which was good for 79 points overall. Belleville missed out on the playoffs by two points behind the Cleveland Monsters.
Despite not making the playoffs, Belleville saw bright spots with some of its prospects shining. One prospect capped off the season on a high that may have caught Ottawa's eyes for next season.
Halliday finishes season with awesome game
Throughout this season, Stephen Halliday has had his fingerprints all over Belleville. Halliday became one of Ottawa's best prospects this season. Halliday's last game against the Laval Rocket this season for Belleville showed why.
Against Laval last night, Halliday recorded the first four-point game of his AHL career with recording two goals and two assists. Halliday scored or assisted on all four of Belleville's goals in its 5-4 overtime loss last night to Laval.
The four-point game capped off a phenomenal season in the AHL for Halliday at 22 years old. Halliday finished the season as Belleville's leading point scorer with 51 points. Halliday's two goals and two assists helped him conclude the season with 19 goals and 32 assists.
Last season, Halliday recorded five points (five assists) in 10 games played. A 46-point jump in a year span raises Halliday's confidence heading into next season.
Halliday's season now could put Ottawa in a position to have him get NHL experience next season. With some forwards due for contracts like Claude Giroux, Adam Gaudette, Nick Cousins, Matthew Highmore, Hayden Hodgson and Fabian Zetterlund, it could open the door for Halliday if one or some of them don't get re-signed by Ottawa.
Belleville needed to see a big jump from some of its young prospects this season. One thing is for sure, Halliday's season was a major jump with a 51-point season.