Well, well, well, how the tables have turned. Not really, but the Ottawa Senators have a new goaltender contract signing to announce. Today, news of the Samuel Ersson contract came down the pipe, and it is one that the Ottawa Senators have optimism about signing. Let’s dig into the details and see why the deal makes sense from the player’s and the team’s point of view.
Credit Image: © Slavek Ruta/ZUMA Press Wire
The Sens Sign a Samuel Ersson Contract
Sam Ersson 2 x $2.2M AAV
Ottawa
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2026
The deal is a two-year contract, with an average annual value of $2.2 million.
Okay, the news involving Ersson has been steady as of late. First, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, which, among other players involved, but it saw goalie Joseph Woll head to the Philadelphia Flyers. So it looked like the Leafs were hoping for a change in the crease and that they would have Ersson as support for the backup role. However, that image was short-lived in Toronto. The Sens were in trade mode after recently trading out Brady Tkachuk, and getting general manager Steve Staios on the horn, so he sent a fifth-round draft pick to Toronto for the rights to negotiate with Ersson.
When the Sens didn’t send Ersson a qualifying offer, there were rumours discussing what was next. It turned out Ottawa was still interested in signing Ersson, and there was the arbitration route available for negotiations, at that time, so to help with finalizing the deal, if it came to that point. But with today’s news, that is all in the past, as Ersson has signed this deal now.
The thinking in Ottawa is that the two Swedes might find rhythm as a tandem. Ersson will likely benefit from a change in scenery. In 2025-26, his .870 save percentage was the lowest in the NHL with goalies who played a minimum of 25 games. In contrast, despite some shaky numbers, he finds ways to win games and has done so throughout his career. Last year in Philly, he finished 14-11-5, despite the far-from-impressive save percentage. Ottawa will look to take the good with the bad, and don’t forget their own staunch defensive play as a team. Maybe this can be an element that can revitalize Ersson. Time will tell, but this is an interesting move, and one to keep an eye on, on how it turns out. The Sens just hope it turns out that they make the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this Samuel Ersson contract helps to achieve that organizational goal in a positive way.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
