Yahoo Sports The One Move The Ottawa Senators Must Avoid In Their Crowded Goaltending Room
For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Ottawa Senators have three goaltenders who can provide wins for the hockey club. With the emergence of Leevi Meriläinen, the excellence of Linus Ullmark, and the recent perseverance of Anton Forsberg, the Sens will need to make a decision in the near future when all three are healthy.
With Ullmark nearing a return, now travelling with the team and practicing in full gear, management will have to choose one of three options:
1) Send Meriläinen back down to Belleville since he is exempt from waivers.
2) Run with three goalies for the time being.
3) Take a chance putting Forsberg on waivers, hope he clears
Here is why option 3 should not even be considered at this point.
Firstly, it has been proven time and time again in the NHL that organizations must have three options they trust in net to have success long-term. Right now the Sens have that, and if one gets hurt (like Ullmark is now) there is not a reliable fourth option.
Mads Sogaard, who was widely believed to be the organizational number three goaltender coming into the season, has been inconsistent at best during his time in the NHL and has dealt with many injuries, including one that is keeping him out now.
After that, the Sens have no more goalies on NHL contracts. This is why it is crucial they don't risk losing one on waivers. Although Forsberg’s $2.75M cap hit makes him a little less attractive, teams are always looking for options in goal, and 20+ teams have the cap space to add him to their rosters should they choose to.
Additionally, Forsberg is a well-respected veteran in the Sens locker room, known to have an excellent work ethic, and a good relationship with Linus Ullmark. That’s not to say being “good in the room” should overrule talent, however for a team that has just begun to start playing the right way, under leadership from the veterans, it could be something to consider.
The option they should choose is sending Meriläinen back down to the AHL. Even though he has proven he may be the second-best goalie in the organization at this time, it makes the most sense to protect their depth and ensure that all three get the reps to stay sharp.
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At age 22, development is still the most important element for Meriläinen, and starting nearly every game in Belleville is a better option than splitting a backup role in Ottawa.
Meriläinen's waiver exemption would make this move easy, and it would be just as easy to call him back up as needed.
Keeping three goalies around Ottawa could be considered, but it is known to make practices messier, having to rotate one in and out, and would likely keep Forsberg or Meriläinen from seeing the net for weeks at a time.
The Ottawa Senators find themselves in a position many teams would envy, with three capable goaltenders. However, managing this depth will be crucial during the rest of the season if they want to make playoffs, and potentially have success beyond.
Waiving Anton Forsberg should not even be considered at this point, given his value as a trusted veteran presence and the team’s lack of reliable options behind him.
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Read more at The Hockey News Ottawa and join us by replying below on our new fan forum, The Senators Roundtable. What's your solution for the Sens' soon-to-be crowded goaltending room?
