Senators sign goaltender Samuel Ersson to two-year deal worth $2.2 million US annually
The 26-year-old acquired from Toronto will back up starter Linus Ullmark as the team addresses depth at the position after last season's struggles.
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The Ottawa Senators signed goaltender Samuel Ersson to a two-year contract at $2.2 million US per season as free agency opened Wednesday at noon, bolstering depth behind starter Linus Ullmark.
Ersson, 26, was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a draft pick last Friday. Though he didn't receive a qualifying offer at Monday's deadline, the organization negotiated a new deal rather than risk losing him to arbitration and unrestricted free agency.
Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, called Ersson "a good fit with our system." The goaltender brings NHL and international experience, having played for Team Sweden at the 4 Nations Faceoff in Montreal in February 2025. "The technical side of things and his movements are attributes that we're excited about," Staios said.
Last season, Ersson finished with a 14-11-5 record for the Flyers, posting a 3.12 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage. He carries a career record of 65-50-17 with a 3.01 GAA and an .884 save percentage.
The Senators used five goaltenders last season, mostly because of Ullmark's leave of absence. Veteran James Reimer arrived in mid-January but has yet to determine whether he'll play again next season. At 23 years old, restricted free agent Leevi Merilainen received a qualifying offer Friday to retain his rights, though the Ersson signing may complicate his path forward. With the regular-season schedule expanding to 84 games in 2026-27, the organization felt it necessary to add experienced backup depth.
