After playing in seven NHL games in the 2023-24 season, Matthew Highmore re-signed to a one-year contract with the Ottawa Senators. It wouldn't be until January 2025 that Highmore would finally get NHL playing time during the 2024-25 season.
In his second game with the Senators on Jan. 12, 2025, Highmore scored the game-winning goal in the Senators' 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars. The goal marked Highmore's first since April 2022. Confidence was riding high for Highmore, but the remainder of the season was a struggle.
Highmore was an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 playoffs. On July 1, Highmore signed a contract with the New York Islanders. However, the Senators may have benefited not re-signing Highmore.
Highmore may not offer much for Islanders
When the 2024-25 season concluded, Highmore finished with six points in 41 games as a Senator. After scoring a goal in his second game played, Highmore recorded five points in the final 39 games he played in.
Highmore only scored one more goal for the remainder of the season, but it was an empty-net goal. The goal helped end a 33-game goal drought. Highmore also had a really cold 21-game stretch of recording just one assist at one point during the season. Highmore was becoming unplayable when he his play was down.
During the 2025 playoffs, Highmore did get a chance to play in the Senators' Game 1 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the loss, Highmore recorded a -1 rating and had four penalty minutes. After Game 1, Highmore was scratched for Nick Cousins. With Highmore out of the lineup, the remaining five games of the series were more competitive.
Highmore could fit more in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders than in the NHL in New York. In 23 AHL games with the Belleville Senators in 2024-25, Highmore recorded 10 points. Highmore finished with four more points in the AHL than in the NHL despite playing in 18 less AHL games.
Bridgeport will need a spark desperately for the 2025-26 season. In 2024-25, Bridgeport finished with the worst record in the AHL with a 15-50-4-3 record, which resulted for a low 37 points. To see how bad Bridgeport was in 2024-25, the Manitoba Moose's 56 points were the second lowest in the AHL.
The Islanders will be Highmore's fifth NHL team in his career at 29 years old. New York can be a fresh start, but the Senators were able to replace Highmore when they signed Lars Eller for fourth line production.