The Ottawa Senators have executed their backup plan in goal by acquiring goaltender Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 National Hockey League draft. The move came just hours before the NHL’s 2026 draft got under way at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with the Senators holding the No. 25 and No. 32 selections in the first round.
Ersson's Recent Moves
This is the second time in two weeks that Ersson has been moved. He was dealt to the Leafs by the Philadelphia Flyers on June 16, along with defenceman Emil Andrae and a draft pick, in exchange for goalie Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit. According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, the Senators' acquisition fills a need for goaltending depth.
Player Profile and Performance
A restricted free agent, Ersson, 26, will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He had a cap hit of $1.45 million US last season. With the Flyers, he posted a 14-11-5 record, a 3.12 goals-against average, and an .860 save percentage. The Senators earlier signed defenceman Jordan Spence to a contract extension.
