Gabriel Eliasson, a 6-foot-7 defenseman and Ottawa Senators prospect, has decided to leave the Ontario Hockey League after two seasons, stating he wants to take the next step in his career by joining the Senators' American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville. Eliasson led the OHL in penalty minutes during the 2025-26 season with 122, but he believes his development has progressed beyond junior hockey.
Eliasson's Decision to Move On
“I’ve been in the OHL for two years now and the league is getting smaller and I’m getting bigger,” Eliasson told the Ottawa Citizen in a 1-on-1 interview at Senators development camp. “I used this year as a development year, and really, really took big steps with my puck game and stuff like that. I’m going to work hard in the summer, have a good camp, and try to take a spot on the AHL team. That’s what I want. I want to take the next step in my career.”
Eliasson, who previously played in Sweden’s top junior league, moved to the OHL because he felt the European rulebook was too soft for his physical style. In his rookie season with the Barrie Colts, he recorded 116 penalty minutes, ranking fifth in the league. Last season, his 122 penalty minutes led the OHL, a league that suspends players after three fights.
Physical Play and Discipline
Once described by Elite Prospects as having “an endless lust for violence,” Eliasson says his two deep playoff runs with the Colts taught him discipline. “He’s a guy that’s super physical, super engaged,” said Senators director of player development Sam Gagner. “And that’s a hard thing to teach to a guy, to be more physical, meaner. And Gabe has that. Sometimes we actually have to tone him down, which is a good thing.”
Eliasson played 37 postseason games over two seasons with Barrie, learning when to dial back his aggression. “I always feel like the higher I play, the better I play, because I play against better players,” Eliasson said. “I think it’s also easier to play against a little bit stronger guys, a little bit bigger guys, because I can play my game fully, like to 100 percent without getting too violent, or you know getting called for everything.”
Developing Puck Skills for Pro Level
To make the jump to the AHL, Eliasson must improve his skating and puck skills. While he is not expected to quarterback a power play or rack up points, he needs to make competent first passes from the defensive zone and hold the blue line. “I think that was the best part of this year, that I tried to try to make more plays and not just playing simple,” Eliasson said.
The Senators organization values his physical presence and sees potential for growth. With a strong summer training regimen and a good training camp, Eliasson hopes to earn a spot with the Belleville Senators for the 2026-27 season.
