The Ottawa Senators have placed goaltender Leevi Merilainen on waivers on Thursday, Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports, signalling the team is going with Samuel Ersson as the backup to Linus Ullmark in net this season.
Merilainen spent parts of the past six seasons in the Senators organization since the team selected him with the 71st overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft.
He made his NHL debut on Apr. 4, 2023, and worked in a limited capacity in the past two seasons.
In 20 games last season (19 starts), Merilainen held a record of 8-10-1 with a 3.51 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage.
Ersson was acquired in a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this off-season. The Swede boasts 143 games of NHL experience, and worked as the primary goaltender with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2023-25 before taking on more of a backup role this past season.
In 33 games a year ago, Ersson held a 14-11-5 record with an .870 save percentage and a 3.12 GAA.
Over his four-year career, the 26-year-old Ersson has a 3.01 GAA and an .884 save percentage in 143 games played.
The Senators begin their regular season on Oct. 3 in a matchup against the Maple Leafs in Toronto, where Linus Ullmark is expected to get the start in net.
