Senators Rumors: Ottawa Could Enter Goalie Trade Market

Tuesday, January 07, 2025

The Ottawa Senators may be forced into the goaltender trade market after Linus Ullmark was sidelined indefinitely with an upper-body injury suffered during a December 22 game against the Edmonton Oilers. 

Ullmark has been a key figure for Ottawa this season, posting a 12-7-2 record, a 2.38 goals-against average, and a .915 save percentage across 20 appearances. 

Without him, the Senators are relying on Anton Forsberg, who has struggled with a .843 save percentage since late November, and rookie Leevi Merilainen, who has shown flashes of potential but isn’t NHL-ready with a .884 save percentage in limited action.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, general manager Steve Staios is exploring potential trade options to address the void in net. 

Names like Anaheim’s John Gibson, Montreal’s Cayden Primeau, and Buffalo’s James Reimer have been mentioned as possibilities, though the market remains challenging. 

Gibson’s no-trade clause reportedly includes Canadian teams, and Detroit’s Ville Husso is unlikely to be available without significant concessions, as the Red Wings are unwilling to retain salary or assist a divisional rival. “There’s not a lot out there,” one league executive noted, emphasizing the difficulty of acquiring goaltending depth during a playoff race.

The uncertainty surrounding Ullmark’s recovery timeline has added urgency to the Senators’ search, as the team has fallen out of a wild-card spot despite a strong December showing. 

Forsberg’s recent struggles and Merilainen’s inexperience leave Ottawa with few internal options to stabilize their crease. 

Garrioch suggests that if the Senators hope to keep their postseason aspirations alive, they will need to act swiftly to secure reliable goaltending through a trade.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images



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