The Ottawa Senators have been busy to their free agency. The Senators have re-signed Nikolas Matinpalo, Tyler Klven, Fabian Zetterlund, Claude Giroux, Leevi Merilainen and Nick Cousins. Although signing Lars Eller was Ottawa's biggest splash, re-signing players from its playoff roster is just as important.
It was also important for the Senators to not re-sign players who were liabilities and struggled in 2024-25. Dennis Gilbert, Cole Reinhardt, Anton Forsberg, Matthew Highmore, Adam Gaudette and Angus Crookshank all didn't return to the Senators so far.
While the Senators do have 12 forwards on their roster under contract for the 2025-26 season, there is one forward who may have benefited the most with the moves the Senators have made so far in free agency.
Belleville's Halliday could finally get NHL playing time
One of the top prospects in the Senators' organization is 22-year-old forward Stephen Halliday, who still hasn't played in the NHL yet. Despite success in the AHL in the 2024-25 season, Halliday didn't play in the NHL last season.
Halliday led Belleville in points last season with 51. Although Halliday was arguably Belleville's best forward last season, other forwards like Crookshank, Reinhardt, Highmore, Jan Jenik and even Hayden Hodgson got to play in at least one NHL game. However, that could change in 2025-26 with the Senators' free agency.
Halliday being the 13th forward on the Senators' roster would make him the first scratched, but it can lead him to making his NHL debut quicker. To make it easier for the Senators, Halliday is under contract for the 2025-26 season.
Considering the Senators had injuries and players struggling last season, Halliday being inserted by head coach Travis Green could potentially be one of the first moves made, especially with some of Belleville's prospects gone now, and Halliday deserves NHL playing time.
Halliday was the only player on Belleville roster last season who recorded 50 points or more. Halliday went from recording five points in 2023-24 to having 46 more points in just one season. Definitely a special jump from a rising prospect in the AHL.
Halliday was relied on every game by Belleville and he delivered a career year. While Halliday will turn 23 years old tomorrow, the chances to play in the NHL appear to be getting higher with the Senators 2025 free agency.
The 2025 free agency still isn't done, but the Senators' move can be positive for Halliday to look at to play in the NHL at last.