Ottawa Senators sign Stephen Halliday to two-year entry-level contract

Another prospect has placed his name on the dotted line.

On Friday, the Ottawa Senators announced they have signed Stephen Halliday forward to a two-year entry-level contract set to kick in next season.

For the meantime, Haillday will join Ottawa’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Belleville Senators, on an amateur tryout.

As a result, the Senators have 30 of a possible 50 contracts signed for the 2024-25 campaign.

“Stephen showcases a good combination of size and skill which is going to be invaluable to him as he progresses in pro hockey,” general manager Steve Staios said in a release. “As a playmaker who enjoyed success at the collegiate level, we’re pleased with his progress and that he’s made the decision to start his professional career with the Ottawa Senators’ organization.”

Halliday was taken by the Sens in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Since then, he has spent the last two seasons honing his craft at Ohio State University, where he earned a Hobey Baker nominee this season. He led the Buckeyes in scoring through his two campaigns in the scarlet and gray. In 78 games, the Ajax, Ontario native registered 19 goals and 58 assists. He was seventh in the Big Ten during the 2023-24 season with 36 points.

Halliday came onto the Senators’ radar after an impressive final season of junior hockey with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League, where he scored 95 points in 62 games, earning USHL First All-Star team honors.

Prior to heading to Dubuque, Halliday played his rookie year in the USHL with the now-defunct Central Illinois Flying Aces in 2018-19, also representing Canada in the World Under-17 Challenge that season. He played his minor hockey with the Toronto Marlboros of the GTHL, appearing with the Marlboros in the 2018 OHL Cup.