The Ottawa Senators aren't done playing hockey yet in 2025-26 but they are, in a way, already looking ahead to their future. The Sens have given themselves some extra insurance in the goaltending department by signing an 18-year-old to an entry-level deal.
On Tuesday (Apr. 21) the team announced they had agreed to terms with Lucas Beckman on a three-year, entry-level contract. Beckman is currently playing for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL. It's been a good week for Beckman as the Saguenéens are coming off a second-round sweep of the Québec Remparts and are headed to the league semifinals with a showdown against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
Beckman has had a great postseason so far, starting all eight games for Chicoutimi and posting a 0.75 GAA and .962 save percentage, including back-to-back shutouts in Game 3 and Game 4 to close out the most recent series against Québec. Beckman is coming off a season in which he was one of the top goalies in the league. He posted a 2.60 GAA (6th in the league) a .917 SV% (3rd in the league) and his six shutouts were tied for second with his teammate, Raphaël Précourt, a sixth-round draft pick by Chicago in 2023.
Beckman himself was taken in the fourth round (No. 97 overall) by the Senators just a year ago. This came after Beckman had spent the first three seasons of his Major Junior Career with Baie-Comeau. Overall, Beckman has played in 99 games in the "Q," compiling a 55-39 record with a 2.51 career GAA and .917 SV%. Great numbers for a youngster who seemingly has a bright career ahead of him. However, goaltenders take a while to develop, and Sens fans shouldn't expect Beckman to be in the NHL as early as next season.
Senators could have a couple of goalies pushing for a spot in the NHL next season
Stranger things have happened, and the 6'2", 195 lbs Montréal native could make a compelling case if he happens to have a couple of strong camp showings. But the Senators are thinking a few years down the road with this move, and while they should still have a decent amount of depth over the course of Beckman's ELC, they could be looking for a new number one at that point.
Linus Ulmark is under contract through the 2028-29 season. James Reimer, who may have saved the Sens' season, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year. Leevi Meriläinen and Mads Søgaard remain under team control as RFA's going into this summer, while Jackson Parsons and Kevin Reidler will be in the system at least through the end of the 2027-28 season before they become RFA's. Beckman's ELC will be up at the same time as Ulmark's deal, and if he has started to move up the depth charts, he may even be in the NHL by that point; the cheaper option may be to sign Beckman longer-term while moving on from Ulmark.
At this point, though, virtually any of those names mentioned could be that "next guy." While Ulmark has had a great couple of seasons with the Senators since the trade from Boston sent him there, it's not unusual to see a number one goalie lose that number one status quickly at the highest level.
It will be fun to watch Beckman continue to develop during this postseason run for the
The Saguenéens and the Sens may have just inked their next number one goalie.
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