The Ottawa Senators’ goalie situation is looking more uncomfortable by the day.
When the club traded for Samuel Ersson over the summer, plenty of fans already had questions. Ottawa then doubled down by giving the 27-year-old a two-year, $4.4 million deal, and that only sharpened the concern about who would back up Linus Ullmark. Now that Ullmark is dealing with a recent injury, those worries have moved from hypothetical to immediate.
Ersson’s early results haven’t helped ease anything. Through five games, he’s posted a 4.59 GAA and an .835 SV%, and those numbers are worse than his career marks. For a team trying to keep pace right now, that’s not a small issue.
Tuesday night’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights only added more fuel to the discussion. Ottawa turned to Jonas Johansson, and the veteran answered with 25 saves on 27 shots. He kept the Senators alive for most of the night, and the final score ended up looking more one-sided than the game itself because of two empty-net goals late in the third period.
That outing has pushed Johansson into the spotlight and, by extension, raised even more questions about Ersson’s role. The idea of Ottawa simply moving on doesn’t appear realistic.
The Senators are, for the most part, stuck with Ersson. There are waiver options and minor-league names out there, but the real task is finding someone who can steady the team until Ullmark is back.
If there’s a positive here, it’s that Johansson looked capable of handling that job against Vegas.
Ersson still has time to change the conversation, and with Johansson now in the mix, the Senators can at least split the workload while they wait for Ullmark. But the patience meter is not exactly overflowing. Ottawa needs points now, and if Ersson can’t prove he can be a reliable NHL goalie, the organization may be pushed toward another answer sooner rather than later.
For now, the setup is clear: Ersson and Johansson may be able to keep the Senators afloat. But the leash on the former Philadelphia Flyer is getting shorter.
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Senators Arena Dream Still Alive As Andlauer Frames Bigger Vision
The Senators long-discussed LeBreton Flats arena remains very much on the table, and owner Michael Andlauer is framing it as something far bigger than a new home for hockey. He described the project as a legacy piece for Ottawa, with the kind of city-shaping potential that could reach well beyond game nights and into the broader development of Ottawa and Gatineau.
There are still plenty of moving parts before anything gets built, though, including talks with the National Capital Commission, coordination with city officials and the practical headache of contaminated soil on the site. Andlauer said the organization is intent on getting the process right rather than rushing it, leaving open the possibility that the timeline could stretch if that is what it takes to make the project work. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Open Tough Trip With One Big Issue Hanging Over Vegas
The Senators are kicking off a tough road trip in Vegas, and the opener comes with both teams carrying some familiar early-season uncertainty. The Golden Knights are trying to stop a three-game skid while juggling lineup changes, including the season debuts of Jonas Rndbjerg and Ville Heinola, plus the return of Mitch Marner. Ottawa, meanwhile, is still sorting through its own goaltending and special teams issues as the trip begins.
One of the biggest pieces of context for the Senators is the status of captain Thomas Chabot. He skated in a regular full-contact jersey yesterday and appears to be nearing a return, which is encouraging for a club that could use his minutes and presence on the back end. For now, though, Ottawa has to navigate the start of this trip without him, and against a Vegas team that is looking to steady itself quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Brady Tkachuk Gave Senators Fans One More Reason To Enjoy That Return
Brady Tkachuks return to Ottawa already had the built-in drama you would expect from one of the NHLs most recognizable agitators, and the Senators got an extra little spark out of it. After Tkachuk opened the scoring against his former team, Senators owner Michael Andlauer said the winger skated past the bench and delivered a taunt that did not exactly go unnoticed in the room or in the building.
The reaction from Ottawa was emphatic, with the Senators piling up five straight goals after the early setback and turning the game on its head. Andlauer suggested the comment may have helped fuel the response, which only added another layer to a night that already had a revenge-game feel for fans who still know exactly what Tkachuk brings whenever he steps on the ice. [Read more 🡒]