The Ottawa Senators are putting their goaltending situation under a microscope as the NHL draft and free agency approach. According to sources, the team is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of their netminding throughout the organization to identify necessary changes.
New Leadership in Goalie Development
President of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios recently hired Maciej Szwoch as coordinator of goaltending scouting and development. Szwoch, who previously worked with the Detroit Red Wings, will collaborate closely with goalie coach Justin Peters to improve the team's goaltending pipeline. Szwoch also served as a mentor to starter Linus Ullmark during his 35-day leave of absence for mental health reasons in January.
Regular Season Struggles
Despite Ullmark's strong performance in the first-round playoff loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Senators' goaltending was a weak point during the regular season. The team ranked 29th in the league with an .870 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average. Although defensive improvements and Ullmark's late-season surge helped secure a second straight playoff berth, the organization acknowledges the need for better depth.
Backup Goalie Uncertainty
The Senators used five goaltenders last season, primarily due to Ullmark's absence. Veteran James Reimer, signed as an unrestricted free agent in mid-January, stabilized the position but has not decided whether to continue playing. Leevi Merilainen, who struggled when thrust into the starting role in December, remains a restricted free agent and is expected to receive a qualifying offer. However, the team may opt for a veteran backup to allow Merilainen more development time.
Staios took responsibility for not adequately addressing the backup situation last season. With Ullmark signed for three more years, the focus is on finding a reliable netminder who can handle 35 games, as Ullmark has never played more than 50 in a season. The decisions made in the next two weeks will be crucial for the team's goaltending depth.
