The Ottawa Senators' goaltending situation is a bit iffy beyond former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark.
Yes, James Reimer did a heck of a job last season, filling in when the club was in dire straits. Reimer wasn’t just a stopgap solution. He practically went and saved the season for Ottawa.
That said, the Senators will be looking to upgrade in the crease this season. With Ullmark being the only real fixture, it makes sense, too much sense in fact, to target this former Edmonton Oilers goalie.
Connor Ingram had a terrific bounce-back year in 2025-26. He left the Utah Mammoth, hoping to get another shot at the NHL. The Oilers gave him that opportunity, and he did not disappoint.
In 32 NHL games this season, he posted a 2.60 GAA and an .899 SV%. While the numbers may not be Vezina-worthy, they were great, particularly for a team known for its porous defense.
The numbers were good enough to bench starter Tristan Jarry in the postseason. In five playoff games, Ingram had a 3.86 GAA and an .876 SV%. The numbers were not good, but that’s considering that the Oilers-Ducks first-round series was a high-scoring one.
Now, based on those numbers, it’s safe to assume that Ingram would fare much better on a defensively sound team like the Senators. The Sens play a much more solid all-around style than the Oilers do.
The Senators, moreover, play with much more of a physical edge than the Oilers do. With that in mind, it makes total sense for the Senators to kick the tires on Ingram.
But there’s one other crucial reason why Ingram makes the most sense for the Senators next season.
Ingram won’t likely cost Senators much in free agency
As for what it would take to sign Connor Ingram, it might be surprising to note that it wouldn’t cost nearly as much as other free-agent goalies out there.
Ingram is coming off a three-year deal with a $1.95 million cap hit. So, assuming he’ll get a raise, it would be crazy to assume that Ingram lands a deal somewhere in the $3 million AAV range. That’s something the Sens can certainly do.
The biggest question might be regarding term. Ingram is 29 and likely looking at one final chance at a multi-year deal. He’s certainly earned one. As such, the question lies in whether that could be a three or four-year deal.
The Sens could take a chance on at least a three-year deal, considering that would line up with Ullmark’s deal expiring. It would also give the Senators a little more time for their goaltending prospects to grow. For instance, Lucas Beckman, who Ottawa chose in the fourth round of last year’s draft, could be the heir-apparent at some point down the line.
There’s also Leevi Merilainen, who is still 23, and two other 21-year-olds in the pipeline. That’s why signing Ingram to a multi-year deal could help the Sens buy some more time for their prospects to replenish the team’s overall pipeline.
But that’s something that remains to be seen. In the meantime, the focus is on winning now. A tandem of Ullmark and Ingram would allow Travis Green to pretty much split up the starts if needed. While Ullmark should get the lion’s share of starts, it’s good to know that the club could ride with Ingram for an extended period, should there be the need.
Add us as a preferred source on Google