Senators' Gabriel Eliasson: Physical defender heads to Sens
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Eliasson was the 39th overall pick by the Senators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
If you're looking for a mean, physical rearguard, this is your guy. Checking in at 6-foot-7 and north of 200 pounds, Eliasson is arguably the most punishing hitter in the entire draft. He makes a point to make life miserable for opposing forwards at all times. His offensive game is extremely basic, and he may never show much improvement in that area, but the Swede wasn't drafted for his point production. The hope is that Eliasson can develop into a Radko Gudas-type for Ottawa down the road.
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Senators' Carter Yakemchuk: Shoot-first defender now with Sens
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Yakemchuk was the seventh overall pick by the Senators at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Yakemchuk is a big, shoot-first, right-shot defender with star upside. Some scouts knock his skating, but his athleticism, physicality and ability to attack with creativity make him a tantalizing package, especially as a right-shot defender. Yakemchuk's game is full of risk - how many NHL defenders drive the net? But in Ottawa's system, he'll gain a bit more discipline and poise. Some people see Brent Burns in him, but he might be more of a top-four Brandon Montour type. Either way, there's big fantasy upside in Yakemchuk's game.
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Senators' Matthew Highmore: Sticking with Ottawa
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Highmore signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators on Wednesday, per PuckPedia.
Highmore picked up two assists in seven NHL games last year, his first with the Senators. He added 31 points over 43 games with AHL Belleville. Highmore will have a chance to compete for a bottom-six role in training camp.
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Senators' Wyatt Bongiovanni: Snags two-way deal
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Bongiovanni agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with Ottawa on Tuesday.
Bongiovanni has yet to make his NHL debut after originally signing with Winnipeg coming out of Quinnipiac University. In the minors this season, the 24-year-old center notched 16 goals and nine assists in 48 combined games for AHL Manitoba and AHL Belleville. At this point, the Michigan native looks like a long shot to become a full-time NHL player, though his new two-way deal will allow him to be on the list of potential call-ups during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Senators' Linus Ullmark: Dealt to Ottawa
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Boston traded Ullmark to the Senators for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic and a 2024 first-round pick Monday.
Ullmark will head to Ottawa with one year remaining on his contract, but it seems likely that the team will look to work out an extension. He won the Vezina Trophy during the 2022-23 campaign with just 49 regular-season appearances and split the workload with Jeremy Swayman again for most of this season, producing a .915 save percentage and a 2.58 GAA in the process. With Korpisalo heading to the Bruins, Ullmark should see more action during the 2024-25 campaign while Anton Forsberg serves as the backup. Ullmark appeared in just two of Boston's 13 postseason games.
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Senators' Jamieson Rees: Signs one-year deal
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Rees inked a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators on Friday.
Rees was dealt to the Senators in mid-March from Carolina for a 2024 sixth-round pick. Rees finished the campaign with AHL Belleville, picking up four assists in 14 regular-season contests. The 44th pick in the 2019 Draft, Rees has yet to see any action at the NHL level.
Matinpalo signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators on Thursday.
Matinpalo was eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer after completing his previous one-year, two-way deal for the 2023-24 campaign. He had four goals and 14 points in 67 regular-season outings with AHL Belleville in 2023-24. Matinpalo also appeared in four contests with Ottawa, recording no points, two shots, four hits and two blocks in that span.
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Senators' Maxence Guenette: Signs one-year deal
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Guenette signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Ottawa on Tuesday.
Guenette produced seven goals and 34 points in 58 AHL regular-season contests with Belleville in 2023-24. He didn't earn a point in seven outings with Ottawa last campaign but provided six shots on goal, six blocked shots and six hits. The 23-year-old defender will probably spend most, if not all, of the 2024-25 season in the minors.
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Senators' Cole Reinhardt: Inks two-way contract
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Reinhardt signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators on Friday.
Reinhardt had eight goals, 23 points and 76 PIM in 56 regular-season contests with AHL Belleville in 2023-24. The 24-year-old appeared in one NHL game in 2021-22, but he hasn't played at the top level over the past two campaigns.
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Senators' Angus Crookshank: Signs new deal
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Crookshank signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators on Wednesday, per PuckPedia.
Crookshank made his NHL debut in 2023-24, picking up three points, 20 shots on net, 20 hits and a minus-3 rating over 13 appearances. He also had 46 points in 50 contests with AHL Belleville. Crookshank will likely spend some time in the minors in 2024-25, but he may be ready to push for a larger role at the NHL level.
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Senators' Lassi Thomson: Signs with SHL team
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Thomson has signed a contract with with the Malmo Redhawks of the SHL.
Thomson wasn't able to catch on with the Senators after being selected by the team with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 Draft -- he appeared in 18 games with Ottawa from 2021-23, picking up five helpers and a minus-10 rating over that span, but he didn't see any action with the big club in 2023-24, instead spending the entirety of the campaign with AHL Belleville, recording 21 points in 67 contests. As a restricted free agent, the Senators still own Thomson's NHL rights, so they'll get the first crack at signing him if he returns to North America in the future.
Senators' Thomas Chabot: Expected to have wrist surgery
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Chabot is slated to undergo offseason wrist surgery, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reports Tuesday.
Chabot could have the procedure in the coming weeks, and his recovery time is expected to be in the range of two-to-three months. That should put him on track to participate in training camp. The 27-year-old defender registered nine goals, 30 points, 118 shots on net, 44 hits and 88 blocked shots in 51 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Senators' Angus Crookshank: Headed for minors
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Crookshank (lower body) was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Monday.
Crookshank will link up with Belleville for the Calder Cup playoffs after having missed the final eight games of the NHL season due to his lower-body injury. In his 13 games with the Senators, the 24-year-old winger notched two goals on 20 shots, one assist and 20 hits while averaging 10:07 of ice time.
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Senators' Josh Norris: Will be ready for training camp
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Norris (shoulder) will be ready for the start of training camp in September, Claire Hanna of TSN reports.
Norris underwent his third shoulder operation in his career in March and he is well on his way to recovery. The talented center had 16 goals and 30 points in 50 games this season, but he struggled at times due to his lingering shoulder woes. Norris has missed 106 games over the last two seasons, dampening his fantasy value heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
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Senators' Tim Stutzle: Dealing with shoulder issue
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Stutzle said Thursday that he dealt with a shoulder injury during the 2023-24 campaign, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports.
Stutzle will need another opinion in terms of whether or not he'll require surgery. The talented center missed the last seven games of the season. Stutzle ended up with 18 goals, 70 points, 192 shots on goal and 100 hits in 75 appearances this season. He regressed from 2022-23, when he managed 39 goals and 90 points in 78 appearances.
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Senators' Thomas Chabot: Surgery not necessary?
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Chabot (upper body) most likely won't need surgery in the offseason, per Wayne Scanlan of Sportsnet.
Chabot battled injuries most of the year, ultimately playing in only 51 games. The 27-year-old recorded nine goals and 21 assists to go along with 118 shots on goal over that stretch. Another update on Chabot's status should surface if it's decided surgery will be necessary.
Imama (upper body) was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Thursday.
Imama left Monday's tilt versus the Rangers late in the second period with the injury and missed Tuesday's game in Boston, but his demotion to the minors suggests he's now healthy. The 27-year-old winger had 22 hits but failed to pick up a point in six NHL games this season.
