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 Sign Matthew Andonovski To Entry-Level Deal
Senators defense prospect Matthew Andonovski has signed his three-year, entry-level contract, per a team announcement. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Andonovski, 19, was picked up by Ottawa in the fifth round of the 2023 draft (140th overall). The left-shot blue liner has spent the last three seasons of the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, where he’ll presumptively be loaned back to for 2024-25. His 20th birthday isn’t until March 2025, so he’s still too young to be assigned to the AHL. That would defer his ELC for one season, making it go into effect for 2025-26 and expiring after 2027-28.
The Markham, Ontario, native has good size at 6’2″ and 201 lbs and blocks shots with abandon. He’s no stranger to getting involved physically and often crosses the line, as evidenced by his 124 PIMs last season. After going without a goal in 67 games in his draft year, he flashed some offensive upside in 2023-24 with seven tallies, 25 assists and 32 points in 62 games for the Rangers. He also had an astounding +58 rating, which led the entire OHL and led the Rangers by 27.
His NHL debut, if it comes at all, is still a few years away. But last season was a promising step forward for the defender, who’s now secured himself a spot in the Ottawa organization when he presumably turns pro next year.