As the NHL season hits its midpoint, the Ottawa Senators find themselves in a familiar position: on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. The team opens the second half of its schedule on Wednesday night against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City, sitting four crucial points behind the final wild-card position in the Eastern Conference.
The Goaltending Conundrum: A Season-Defining Issue
The most glaring obstacle for Ottawa's playoff aspirations has been the performance between the pipes. The Senators rank dead last in the league with a collective .872 save percentage, a statistic that simply must improve for any postseason hope to remain alive.
Starter Linus Ullmark, signed to a four-year, $33-million extension before the 2024-25 campaign, has not met expectations and is currently on a leave of absence with no clear return date. In his stead, Leevi Merilainen has been thrust into the number one role but has struggled to recapture the form that saw him post an impressive 8-3-1 record during a six-week stretch last season.
Exploring the Trade Market: Thin Pickings for Steve Staios
President of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios has reportedly been active in exploring the goalie market, but viable solutions appear scarce. One name linked to the Senators is Laurent Brossoit of the Chicago Blackhawks, who is currently playing for their AHL affiliate in Rockford. The Blackhawks are motivated to move his $3.2-million contract, but his .901 save percentage in the minors raises questions about whether he represents a significant upgrade.
The market beyond Brossoit is notably thin. While there is speculation the Pittsburgh Penguins might move Stuart Skinner, Ottawa already carries three goalies on one-way NHL contracts, complicating any potential acquisition. For now, Belleville call-up Mads Sogaard, earning $775,000 in the AHL, will get an opportunity, starting with Thursday's game against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Path Forward: Consistency and Internal Solutions
The Senators' task is clear but daunting. To claw their way back into contention, the team must rediscover a level of consistent play that has been absent for much of the first half. The immediate solution in goal likely rests internally, awaiting Ullmark's return and hoping he can perform like the Vezina-caliber netminder he was brought in to be.
With the trade market offering few compelling alternatives, the organization's focus may need to shift towards bolstering defensive play in front of whoever is in net. The second half of the schedule represents a clean slate, but time is running out for the Senators to turn their season around and secure a second consecutive playoff berth.
