Ottawa Senators sign Samuel Ersson to two-year deal to backup Linus Ullmark

Samuel Ersson was acquired by the Senators from the Maple Leafs on June 26, 2026, for a fifth-round pick. Photo by Gregory Shamus /Getty Images

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Samuel Ersson has signed on the dotted line.

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The Ottawa Senators took care of another piece of business as free agency opened on Wednesday at noon by signing the 26-year-old goaltender to a two-year deal at $2.2 million US per season.

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Acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a draft pick last Friday, Ersson didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Senators at Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline, but that’s because he had the right to file for arbitration and a deal there would have walked him into unrestricted free agency.

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Ersson, 26, had a cap hit of $1.45 million US last season. He finished with a 14-11-5 record for the Flyers with a 3.12 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage.

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The Senators wouldn’t have made this move unless they felt they’d be able to get a deal in place with New York-based agent Lewis Gross.

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“They’ve identified Ersson as very good goaltender to bring into our system, and because of that, I wouldn’t acquire his rights, and we’ll work to negotiate a contract,” Staios said on Saturday. “They like the upside on the goalie.

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“He’s been with the national team 4 Nations, you’d have to ask them, but the technical side of things and his movements are things that they’re those are attributes that they’re excited about.

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The Senators used five goaltenders last season, mostly because of starter Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence, but the position wasn’t settled until veteran James Reimer arrived in mid-January as an unrestricted free agent. The 38-year-old has yet to determine whether he will play again next season.

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Staios told reporters at his end-of-season availability that he took full responsibility for not properly addressing the void behind Ullmark. Leevi Merilainen was thrust into the No. 1 role in late December, with the club not playing well in front of him, and he couldn’t handle the pressure.

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The Senators have every right to believe in Merilainen. He is 23 years old, and there is no question he’ll receive a qualifying offer of $1.05 million as a restricted free agent, but the organization felt it was necessary to go the veteran route to give him time to develop.

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They made him a qualifying offer on Friday to retain his rights for free agency, but the decision to sign Ersson could leave Merilainen wondering where he stands.

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Ullmark has never played more than 50 games in a season during his career, and the regular-season schedule will be expanded to 84 games in 2026-27. That means you have to count on the backup to play more than 30 games, which is why the organization wanted someone with NHL experience.

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Ersson has struggled, but we know the Philadelphia market can be tough on goaltenders, and this will be a fresh start.

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Taken No. 143 overall by the Flyers in 2019, Ersson has a 65-50-17 record in his career with a 3.01 GAA and an .884 save percentage. He was one of Ullmark’s teammates on Team Sweden at the 4 Nations Faceoff held in Montreal in February of 2025.

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More later … 

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