Steve Staios, the Ottawa Senators' president of hockey operations and general manager, accepted responsibility on Monday for the team's failure to secure a dependable backup goaltender during the past season. The Senators struggled with inconsistent play from their second-string netminders, a problem that persisted throughout the campaign.
Staios takes ownership of backup goalie woes
Speaking at locker cleanout day at the Canadian Tire Centre, Staios admitted that the organization did not adequately address the backup position. 'When I talk about making decisions to help this team move forward, one where we didn't do a good job was on the backup position,' he told reporters. 'The process in our room when we discussed it was on Levy's performance, and we still believe in Levy.'
Staios referred to Leevi Merilainen, who spent part of the season with the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville. Merilainen posted an 8-3-1 record with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage during a 12-game stretch when starter Linus Ullmark was injured in the 2024-25 season. However, he struggled when Ullmark took a 35-day leave of absence for mental health reasons starting Dec. 28, leading to his demotion.
Mid-season adjustment with Reimer
The Senators eventually signed veteran James Reimer as an unrestricted free agent in mid-January to stabilize the position. Staios acknowledged that the move was necessary but reflected a failure in planning. 'I didn't do a good enough job of supporting Linus and that position and probably didn't put Leevi in the best position to have success,' he said. 'We had to adjust and have James Reimer come in. He had a very positive impact on our group, both on and off the ice.'
The Senators used five goaltenders this season, primarily due to Ullmark's absence. After being swept in four games by the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs, the team's early offseason has prompted scrutiny of the goaltending situation. Ullmark performed well in the postseason with a 1.32 GAA and .932 save percentage, but the Senators scored only five goals in the series.
Future plans for the backup role
Staios indicated that the team will search the market for a reliable No. 2 goaltender to back up Ullmark. Merilainen, who finished the season in Belleville with a .909 save percentage and 2.77 GAA, remains an option but may not be the primary solution. Mads Sogaard, another goaltender in the organization, is an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and is not expected to return.
Staios emphasized the need to learn from this experience. 'We still believe in Levy, but his numbers were better than any of the alternative goaltenders we were looking at,' he said. 'I didn't do a good enough job, and we have to ensure we have a solid backup plan moving forward.'
