Ottawa Senators News

Ottawa will be bringing back a familiar veteran presence in 2025-26 after announcing it has signed Claude Giroux to a one-year, $2 million extension, with the possibility of earning up to $4.75 million in bonuses. The 37-year-old is entering his 19th NHL season and his fourth with Ottawa after putting up a modest 15 goals and 50 points in 81 games played in 2024-25.

Zetterlund was acquired at the trade deadline from the Sharks and had just two goals and three assists (five points) in 20 games. Zetterlund played more of a depth role after being acquired but could play more of a top-6 role in 2025-26. He has a career-high of 24 goals and 44 points with the Sharks in 2023-24.

Thomson spent the 2024-25 season with Malmö (SHL) but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with the Ottawa Senators. The 24-year-old is expected to return to North America after one season with Malmö, where he excelled with 17 goals and 29 points in 50 games played. His last NHL appearance came in 2022-23 with Ottawa, where he had no points in two games played.

The 2024-25 season was the first full NHL season for Kleven, who had 19 points (4G / 6A) in 79 games. He also had a solid postseason, posting two assists, eight blocked shots and 16 hits while averaging 15:47 TOI/gm in six games vs. the Maple Leafs.

Matinpalo is an undrafted 26-year-old defenseman that played a career-high 41 games with Ottawa this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A). He appeared in all six playoff games for Ottawa this postseason as well.

The Senators will of course turn back to Ullmark between the pipes on Thursday as they hope to push their opening round series against the Maple Leafs to a deciding Game 7. The former Vezina Trophy winner is coming off his best performance of the playoffs and arguably stole the victory for Ottawa in Game 5, posting a shutout in a game where the Sens were outshot 29-19. Ullmark owns a 2.80 GAA and an .883 SV% through the opening five games of the series. The Senators enter action on Thursday at -120 on the money line.

Ullmark was solid in Ottawa's 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 on Saturday, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) for his first postseason victory as a Senator, narrowing the Toronto Maple Leafs' series lead to 3-1. The 31-year-old netminder has a 3.44 GAA and .848 SV% in four games this postseason (1-3). He returns to the crease in Game 5 for a Senators team that is a +152 road favorite against the Maple Leafs, who have outscored them 15-10 in the series.

Spence did not play in Game 4 but will return to the Kings' lineup in a pivotal Game 5. The 24-year-old defenseman is averaging 6:08 time-on-ice and has a -2 plus/minus through three games this postseason.

As expected, the Senators will stick with Ullmark for Game 3 of the series despite entering Thursday night's matchup in a 2-0 hole. Though he was unable to come away with the victory, Ullmark turned in a markedly better performance in the second game of the 2025 Battle of Ontario. The former Vezina Trophy winner stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced in the 3-2 overtime loss. Ullmark and the Senators enter action on Thursday at -130 on the money line.

The Senators will unsurprisingly turn back to Ullmark between the pipes for Game 2 in Toronto. Ullmark had a night to forget in Game 1 on Sunday, allowing six goals on 24 shots. The six minor penalties his teammates were guilty of certainly didn't help matters, but Ullmark will undoubtedly need to be at the top of his game if the Senators are going to even the series on Tuesday. Ottawa enters action at +135 on the money line.

Greig played 17:51 time-on-ice and scored a goal in his playoff debut on Sunday but is nursing an undisclosed ailment that kept him from skating on Tuesday morning. Still, he is expected to be an option for Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old Greig had 34 points (13G / 21A) in 78 games this season.

The Senators will look to build momentum heading into their first-round playoff matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, turning to Ullmark between the pipes in their season finale on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Ullmark played well in his most recent outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.67 GAA and .911 SV% in 43 games this season (24-14-3). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -125 home favorites against a Hurricanes team that lost 4-2 to the Montreal Canadiens last night.

Sanderson did not play Ottawa's previous game but he will draw back into the lineup for their season-finale on Thursday. The 22-year-old Sanderson is averaging 24:24 time-on-ice and has a career-high 55 points (11G / 44A) in 79 games this season.

Giroux did not play Ottawa's previous game but he will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. The 37-year-old veteran is averaging 18:16 time-on-ice and has 50 points (15G / 35A) in 80 games this season, marking the 13th 50-point campaign of his career.