Maple Leafs Move Goalie Ersson to the Senators
Samuel Ersson is back on the move again, and at this point, you almost need a program to keep up with him. The Ottawa Senators picked up the young goaltender from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, sending a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft the other way. It’s not the kind of deal that moves headlines in June, but it does add another twist to a goalie story that has already taken a couple of sharp turns in a very short window.
Ersson came to the Maple Leafs in the Joseph Woll deal.
Ersson only just arrived in Toronto a little over a week ago after being acquired from Philadelphia. Now he’s packing his bags again, this time heading down the 401 to Ottawa, where things might actually be lining up a bit more clearly for him—at least on paper.
Last season with the Flyers, Ersson played 33 regular-season games and posted a 14-11-5 record. The numbers weren’t spectacular: a 3.12 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage. That’s not exactly the kind of stat line that makes a guy untouchable, but also not the kind that ends a career either. More like a goalie still trying to find his footing in the league while bouncing between situations that haven’t exactly been stable.
Related: Why the Senators Were Right to Move a Star Defenceman.
Ersson might find a landing spot with the Senators.
And that’s kind of the story here. He’s been in search of a landing spot where he can actually settle in and carve out a role. In Ottawa, there might be at least a path. Linus Ullmark is clearly the starter there, but the depth chart behind him isn’t locked in stone. Leevi Meriläinen is heading toward restricted free agency, and James Reimer is set to become an unrestricted free agent. That opens a door, even if it’s not exactly flung wide open. More like slightly ajar with a bit of draft coming through it.
For Ersson, the assignment is simple in theory and complicated in practice. If he comes in and competes well. He might claim the backup job for 2026-27. That’s it. No grand expectations, no saviour narrative—just a chance to stabilize and show he can handle NHL minutes in a more consistent environment.
The Maple Leafs gain another draft pick.
From Toronto’s perspective, this is another small asset shuffle. A fifth-round pick in 2027 is a long way off and a long way down the draft board, but teams make these kinds of moves all the time when they’re trying to sort out goaltending depth without tying up too much money or term.
In the end, Ersson’s career right now feels like one of those stories that hasn’t quite found its chapter yet. Ottawa might not be the final stop, but it could be the first place in a while where the road actually straightens out a little.