Stephen Halliday Makes His Case in Ottawa Before Scary Exit vs. Vegas
The Ottawa Senators might just have something special in Stephen Halliday - and they’re finding out in real time.
With veteran David Perron sidelined due to a sports hernia, the door opened once again for Halliday to step into the NHL lineup. Called up from AHL Belleville just four days ago, this marks Halliday’s third stint with the big club this season.
But this time? He didn’t just knock - he barged in.
In his last three games, the 23-year-old winger from Ajax, Ontario has racked up three goals and four points, flashing a level of confidence and finish that hadn’t quite surfaced in his earlier NHL appearances. He’s now up to 18 games and six points on the year, but it’s not just the numbers - it’s how he’s getting them.
Halliday’s presence on the puck, his poise under pressure, and his ability to find soft spots in the offensive zone have all taken a noticeable leap. He’s not just surviving NHL minutes - he’s creating, contributing, and making it clear he wants to stay.
That’s what made Sunday night’s scene so tough to watch.
Midway through the third period against Vegas, Halliday was on the receiving end of a heavy hit from Tomas Hertl, who drove him into the angled glass near the Golden Knights’ bench. Halliday’s head snapped back on impact, and he crumpled to the ice before being helped off by teammates and trainers.
After the game, Brady Tkachuk - who had three assists in the contest - offered a promising update.
“I mean, he played amazing,” Tkachuk said. “And I just talked to him.
He feels good, feels okay. So hopefully it's nothing too severe.”
Tkachuk didn’t stop there. He made it clear the team has taken notice of what Halliday’s bringing to the table.
“Every single game he plays, he just keeps getting better and better - the confidence, the poise,” he said. “He's a player who's gonna really help us moving forward.”
That’s not just leadership speak. Halliday has earned that praise.
His path to the NHL was far from conventional. Passed over in two drafts, Halliday finally heard his name called in 2022 when Ottawa selected him in the fourth round as a 20-year-old. He’d just come off a monster season in the USHL with 95 points in 62 games for Dubuque - a breakout that made it impossible for the Senators to ignore him any longer.
At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, Halliday has always had the frame and the scoring touch. He produced at Ohio State and continued to develop in Belleville.
But the big question mark for scouts was always his skating. That’s where he’s put in the work.
While he’s not going to blow past defenders like a burner off the wing, his stride has improved dramatically since his draft day, and he’s learned how to use his size and hockey IQ to make up the difference - much like a young Mark Stone once did.
And it’s worth noting: Ottawa has made a habit of finding value in overlooked players. Halliday joins a list that includes names like Drake Batherson, Egor Sokolov, Cole Reinhardt, and Mark Kastelic - all players who were either passed over or taken later than their talent eventually suggested.
So now the question becomes: what’s next?
If Halliday’s injury turns out to be minor, he’s made a strong case to stay in the lineup for good. This isn’t just a short-term call-up filling in while a vet gets healthy. This is a young player who’s starting to look like a long-term piece of the puzzle.
Whether the Senators make a serious playoff push or not, Halliday’s emergence is a bright spot - and potentially a turning point in his career.