Parsons is an undrafted goalie that played the previous four seasons in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers. As a 20-year-old last season, Parsons shined, posting a stellar 2.24 GAA and .920 SV% in 52 games with Kitchener (37-12-3).
Los Angeles added to its defensive depth on Day 2 of Free Agency by signing Samuel Bolduc to a one-year, two-way contract. The 24-year-old has 52 career NHL games to his name, but spent the majority of the 2024-25 season with Bridgeport (AHL), where he had nine goals and 35 points in 69 games played. He is expected to compete for one of Los Angeles' final defensive spots to start the 2025-26 season.
Tomasino was the Nashville Predator's 24th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins early in the 2024-25 season. He scored 23 points (11G / 12A) in 50 games with the Penguins, earning himself a one-year contract extension worth $1.75 million.
Blais had a breakout 2022-23 season, scoring 20 points (9G / 11A) in 31 games with the St. Louis Blues, but only scored seven points (1G / 6A) in 53 games in 2023-24 and ultimately spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL. After losing Joel Armia and Michael Pezzetta, the Canadiens will look to Blais to compete for a bottom-six role in the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Fresh off a successful 2nd full campaign that saw him post career highs in goals (17), assists (41), points (58), and SOG (151), William Eklund has earned himself a three-year, $16.8 million extension ($5,600,000 AAV) to remain with San Jose. The 22-year-old was San Jose's 2021 1st round pick (7th overall) and has produced admirably since making his NHL debut in 2021-22. He is expected to return to his regular top-six and top power-play role for the 2025-26 season.
After winning the Stanley Cup in the 2023-24 season with the Florida Panthers, Cousins spent the 2024-25 season with the Ottawa Senators and will return for a second season with the club in 2025-26. The agitating 31-year-old forward had 15 points (6G / 9A), 41 penalty minutes, and 85 hits in 50 games with the Senators.
Merilainen spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, but was thrust into NHL action due to recurring injuries to Ottawa's goaltenders. The 22-year-old Merilainen, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, was excellent when called upon for Ottawa, posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV% in 12 outings (8-3-1). He had a 2.37 GAA and .913 SV% in 37 games (18-12-4) with the Belleville Senators (AHL).
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.
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.
