Senators Recall Mads Sogaard
The Senators have recalled goaltender Mads Søgaard from AHL Belleville, per a team announcement. He replaces Hunter Shepard, who was reassigned to Belleville in the corresponding move, as Ottawa’s interim No. 2 option while Linus Ullmark is away from the club.
Søgaard, 25, has seen at least one start for the Sens in each of the last four seasons but has failed to make a meaningful leap on Ottawa’s depth chart. The Sens selected him 37th overall in 2019 as the third goalie off the board, following Spencer Knight and Pyotr Kochetkov, but he appears to have topped out as a No. 3/4 option.
The big Dane checks in at 6’7″ and 231 lbs, a frame that has likely kept him under NHL consideration longer than his numbers would have dictated otherwise. After appearing to break out with a .916 SV% in 32 games with Belleville in 2023-24, he spent most of last year on the injured list and only had a .858 mark while going winless in eight appearances. This season, he’s been limited to a .887 SV%, 3.49 GAA, one shutout, and a 2-8-3 record in 15 games.
With a .879 SV% in 29 career NHL appearances, he doesn’t offer a ton of intrigue as a short-term backup option, either. While Ottawa has had goaltending problems all year with Ullmark churning out a .881 SV% and a league-worst -18.3 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, the options behind him aren’t any better. Leevi Merilainen, their top name for the time being, has a .867 mark and -11.8 GSAx in just 14 games. Shepard, 30, allowed two goals on 12 shots in relief of Merilainen in Monday’s 5-3 loss to the Red Wings.
Goalie Notes: Ullmark, Senators, Reimer
In today’s press conference, Ottawa Senators General Manager Steve Staios admitted that there’s no timeline for netminder Linus Ullmark to return from his leave of absence. Ullmark took a personal leave on December 28th and has not played for the Senators since December 27th.
Although some have speculated that Ullmark’s indefinite leave from Ottawa impacted his candidacy for Team Sweden’s roster for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, a report from Hans Abrahamsson and Viktoria Björklöf explained that wasn’t the case.
That update isn’t entirely surprising given Ullmark’s performance this season. After finishing with a .909 SV% last season, he’s only managed a .881 mark this season. Additionally, according to MoneyPuck, of the 49 netminders that have played 15 or more games this season, Ullmark is in 46th place with a -4.9 Goals Saved Above Expected.
Additional goaltending notes:
- Despite being without Ullmark for the foreseeable future, Staios mentioned in the same press conference that he doesn’t expect to bring in any outside help. It’s a nice sentiment that Staios has confidence in Ottawa’s current goaltending depth, but it’s a bit unfounded. The Senators’ current starter, Leevi Merilainen, has only managed an .872 SV% through 12 games this season, while the duo of Hunter Shepard and Mads Søgaard has combined for a .888 mark for the AHL’s Belleville Senators.
- One veteran netminder who is conceivably available to the Senators is James Reimer. In today’s rendition of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman shared that Reimer, who is currently an unrestricted free agent, is still looking for a place to play this year and would like to join a contender if possible. Reimer finished with a .896 SV% last season, split between the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres, and it’s clear that the Senators still plan on contending this season, which could entice Reimer if they’re interested.
Senators Believed To Have Checked In On Rasmus Andersson
While the Senators enter play today in last place in the Atlantic Division and second-last in the Eastern Conference, they’re only three points out of a Wild Card spot and aren’t thinking about selling just yet. To that end, league sources suggested to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that Ottawa has circled back and inquired about Flames blueliner Rasmus Andersson.
The 29-year-old is in the final season of his contract and while Calgary hasn’t ruled out the possibility of signing him to an extension themselves, the expectation is that he will likely be dealt before the trade deadline in March.
Andersson is a top-pairing right-shot defender, the type of commodity that is always in short supply and very high demand. In 40 games this season, he has eight goals and 18 assists, putting him on pace for his second career 50-point campaign. Meanwhile, Andersson is also averaging a career-high 24:10 per game of playing time.
With a $4.55MM cap charge, it’s fair to say that Andersson has been quite the bargain for Calgary and it’s a price tag that a lot of teams should be able to afford, including the Sens. However, given his role, production, and overall value, the Flames are well-positioned to command a significant return; a first-round pick and a top prospect could be a realistic ask at this point. If Calgary gave a team permission to discuss an extension beforehand, that price could go even higher.
That potential price could be a challenge for Ottawa to meet. As things stand, they’re set to forfeit their 2026 first-round pick as punishment for not declaring Evgenii Dadonov’s no-trade protection that eventually resulted in a vetoed trade back in 2022. While they can move future first-round picks as well, going multiple years without a top pick isn’t ideal for a team that currently finds itself out of a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, it appears their top prospects aren’t believed to be available. Garrioch reports that the Sens have zero interest in moving defensemen Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler, their two most recent first-round selections. Yakemchuk is currently injured with AHL Belleville while Hensler just suited up at the World Juniors.
With those top assets unavailable, it’s hard to see Ottawa realistically getting involved in trade talks for Andersson. But they can be added to the list of teams keeping tabs on him, a group that includes (but is not limited to) Dallas, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Vegas.
Senators Loan Matthew Andonovski To OHL
The Senators reassigned defense prospect Matthew Andonovski from AHL Belleville to OHL Kitchener today, per a team announcement.
Andonovski was a fifth-round pick in 2023. As he’s 20 years old, he’s still eligible for major junior hockey, but Ottawa was no longer forced to return him to his junior team as stipulated by the NHL-CHL transfer agreement.
While Andonovski was eligible for a full-time assignment to Belleville, loaning him to Kitchener means he must stay there until their season ends. He’s not eligible to return to the AHL until then, and he would only be eligible for an NHL recall under emergency conditions, although he’s far enough down the depth chart that he wouldn’t be considered in that scenario.
The 6’2″, 201-lb lefty signed his entry-level contract with the Sens in the 2024 offseason, but the deal slid to this year after he was loaned out to Kitchener for the entire campaign. A physical shutdown defender, Andonovski served as the Rangers’ captain last season and racked up 21 points, a +10 rating, and 132 penalty minutes in 65 games.
This season, injuries have limited Andonovski’s pro debut to just three appearances with Belleville and none since Nov. 1. He posted zeroes across the board. Today’s news indicates he’s been cleared to return to play and will now partake in his fifth and final season with Kitchener.
Senators Activate Shane Pinto
The Senators welcomed back a key center to the lineup tonight against Columbus. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch relayed (Twitter link) that Shane Pinto was set to anchor the third line, meaning he has been activated off injured reserve. Ottawa had an open roster spot so no further moves needed to be made.
The 25-year-old has missed the last four weeks with a lower-body injury. With Lars Eller also on IR, they still don’t have their full complement of middlemen available to them but their top three are now intact.
Pinto got off to a terrific start to the season. He had seven goals in six games to start and by the time he reached his 18th game, he had nine goals and six assists, making for a nice return on his $3.75MM bridge deal. At that 18-game mark, he signed a four-year, $30MM contract extension, buying out his two remaining RFA-eligible seasons as well as his first two years of UFA eligibility.
However, things haven’t gone quite as well offensively for Pinto since then. In his nine games played since signing, he has just three goals and one assist before sustaining his injury. Still, he is certainly a welcome addition as they will need as much firepower as possible with starting goalie Linus Ullmark away from the team indefinitely on a leave of absence.
Meanwhile, Ottawa also welcomed back defenseman Tyler Kleven to the lineup after missing the last three games with a lower-body injury. He has five assists, 48 blocked shots, and 41 hits in 32 games this season. He remained on the active roster while injured so no corresponding move needed to be made for him either. Kleven took the place of Nick Jensen (healthy scratch) in the lineup.
Ottawa Senators Recall Hunter Shepard
As expected, the Ottawa Senators have recalled an additional netminder with Linus Ullmark taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons. The Senators announced that they’ve recalled Hunter Shepard from the AHL’s Belleville Senators.
Shepard, 30, was the obvious choice for a recall with Ullmark out. The two-time Calder Cup champion and two-time National champion is in his first year with the Senators organization after signing a one-year, league minimum contract last summer.
He hasn’t dominated the AHL as he has in years past with the Hershey Bears, though he’s clearly been the best option in Belleville. In 11 games this season, Shepard has a 5-5-1 record with a .905 SV% and 3.16 GAA. By contrast, his tandem partner, Mads Søgaard, has a 2-6-3 record in 13 games with a .885 SV% and 3.47 GAA.
Still, despite his past accomplishments in the NCAA and AHL, Shepard lacks the same level of experience in the NHL as Søgaard does. Depending on how long Ullmark will miss, it’s unrealistic to think the Senators will start Leevi Merilainen for every game. The Senators have a particularly busy schedule coming up, with 10 games in 19 days beginning today against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Regardless, if Shepard does feature in a game for Ottawa, it’ll be his first NHL appearance since the end of last season. It would be difficult for him to fare any worse than he did in that contest, allowing seven goals on 26 shots against the Blue Jackets.
Senators Reassign Xavier Bourgault And Dennis Gilbert
Dec. 29th: After Ottawa’s loss to the Maple Leafs, the team quietly moved Bourgault and Gilbert back to AHL Belleville, according to the AHL transactions log. Neither player participated in last night’s contest against the Utica Comets, so they won’t be eligible for an additional recall until after the new year.
Dec. 27th: The Senators have made a pair of roster moves coming out of the holiday break to give them some extra depth. The team announced that they’ve recalled forward Xavier Bourgault and defenseman Dennis Gilbert from AHL Belleville. To make room for them on the roster, center Lars Eller was moved to injured reserve.
This is the first regular season recall of Bourgault’s career (though he has been brought up as a Black Ace in the playoffs before). The 23-year-old was a first-round pick by Edmonton back in 2021, going 22nd overall but has played exclusively in the AHL since turning pro in 2022. Ottawa acquired him back in the 2024 offseason.
Bourgault has been quite productive with Belleville to earn this promotion. In 32 games this season, he has nine goals and 18 assists, including ten helpers in his last nine outings. As a result, he has already surpassed his output from last season when he had 26 points in 61 contests. He’s expected to make his NHL debut against Toronto tonight with the team announcing (Twitter link) that Bourgault is expected to slot in on the fourth line.
Gilbert, meanwhile, gets his second recall after being acquired from Philadelphia earlier this season. He got into one game on that first stint, his only taste of action at the top level in 2025-26 though he was injured for most of the season. Between Belleville and AHL Lehigh Valley, the 30-year-old has six assists in 13 games.
Senators’ Linus Ullmark Taking Leave Of Absence, Out Indefinitely
The Senators announced Sunday that starting goaltender Linus Ullmark will be taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.
“Linus has the full support of our organization during this time,” general manager Steve Staios said. “Out of respect to Linus, we will not be making any further comments.”
Ottawa is eligible to designate Ullmark as a non-roster player for however long his leave lasts. Technically, he’ll be listed as indefinite, with the details of Ullmark’s absence at his discretion to disclose.
After last night’s wild 7-5 loss to the Maple Leafs, the Senators have a relatively easy schedule to contend with while they deal with the absence of their No. 1 netminder. Tomorrow’s game against the Blue Jackets kicks off a four-game homestand with two of those games against teams not in playoff position (Columbus and Winnipeg). Ottawa hits the road again to face the Mammoth on Jan. 8, a trip they’re hoping Ullmark can attend.
The Senators acquired the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner from the Bruins in the 2024 offseason in a blockbuster deal, eventually signing the then-pending free agent to a four-year, $33MM extension that kicks in this season. While Ullmark had a strong first effort in Ottawa last year despite injuries limiting him to 43 starts, he’s been among the league’s worst starters in 2025-26.
Under Ullmark’s 14-8-5 record in 28 starts this season lies a .881 SV%, 2.95 GAA, and -11.5 goals saved above expected that ranks worst in the league, per MoneyPuck. Ottawa’s top-10 offense and league-best 2.22 xGA/60 at 5-on-5 have helped limit the damage and kept them in the playoff race with an 18-14-5 record, but with backup Leevi Merilainen logging an even worse .874 SV%, goaltending has put the Sens’ chances of a second consecutive playoff appearance in extreme jeopardy.
Nonetheless, the 23-year-old Merilainen now figures to see the majority of action until Ullmark returns. The Sens have multiple recall options from AHL Belleville but will almost surely opt for sixth-year pro Hunter Shepard, who’s logged a .905 SV%, 3.16 GAA, and 5-5-1 record in 11 games.
Prospect Lucas Beckman Traded In QMJHL
- Senators prospect Lucas Beckman has been traded in the QMJHL as Chicoutimi announced that they’ve acquired him from Baie-Comeau for a pair of players and two draft picks. The goaltender was a fourth-round pick back in June, going 97th overall. In 23 games with the Drakkar this season, he has a 3.29 GAA along with a .905 SV%, numbers that are a considerable step back from 2024-25 when he was on more of a contending team. Ottawa holds Beckman’s signing rights until June 1, 2027.
Senators Loan Olle Lycksell To AHL
After tonight’s shootout loss to Buffalo, the Ottawa Senators announced that Olle Lycksell has been loaned to AHL Belleville. A depth forward, Lycksell has been back and forth between Belleville and Ottawa of late.
As a result of Lars Eller’s injury, Lycksell earned another call-up on December 13, and got into a game a week later against Chicago. He only played 7:17, but managed to notch an assist, his second point of the season, in seven total games. Simply unable to get adequate ice time since, the Swede will return to the AHL, where he is highly productive. Besides the best for himself, the transaction also may signal that Shane Pinto is on the cusp of a return.
Drafted in the sixth round back in 2017 by Philadelphia, Lycksell has impressively managed to stick around as a secondary option between the Flyers and Senators, skating in 52 career NHL games. He became an AHL All Star with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but caught on with Ottawa over the summer in a one year deal. An unrestricted free agent at season’s end, based on all his activity so far, the 26-year-old figures to be surefire depth for the Sens when needed.
A player whose sharpest skills are on the offensive side, Lycksell faces the challenge of trying to establish himself at the highest level in limited fourth line roles. Rejoining Belleville, who features AHL leading scorer Arthur Kaliev, Lycksell will vie for another shot and potentially extend his North American career.