Confirmed with Link: Leevi Merilainen (G) signed to a three-year, entry-level contract

[AchtzehnBaby]

Merilainen, 18, played the 2020-21 season with Karpat in Finland's SM-sarja junior U20 league and earned a record of 21-0-3 to lead the league in wins while posting team highs in save percentage (.928) and in goals-against average (1.71). He also registered a league-high six shutout victories.

"Leevi made significant strides in his development while playing with a strong program at Karpat last season," said Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "He plays big in the net, maintains a controlled style and is on the right path to continuously improve as he builds additional strength and gains more experience. It's our hope to see him play for Finland at the next world junior championship."

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[Emerica]

He's left handed? I knew it was a bad pick

 

[Ouroboros]

Eeliteetvi.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Feel like something special about this kid. Can't shake off the fact that we took him with a high 3rd rounder with some really good other options available and the excellent goaltending depth we already had.

 

[Sun God Nika]

guy wasn't even on any mock lists for the whole draft and somehow im happy we got him with a third rounder. nice work scouts.

I just laughed at the pick at the time wasn't even mad.

The season he just had tho if he was a first rounder we would all still be impressed.

 

[Alfie11]

Definitely did not see this signing happening this summer.

This is a reminder not too get too upset over draft picks during the draft. No one knew about this guy and now he looks like a good prospect.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Intriguing prospect. Hope he does well.

Surely we won’t be taking a goalie this year....?

 

[Samboni]

This is a reminder not too get too upset over draft picks during the draft.

Amen brother!

 

[PatrickEaves]

Definitely did not see this signing happening this summer.

This is a reminder not too get too upset over draft picks during the draft. No one knew about this guy and now he looks like a good prospect.

Well, unless they are overagers out of high school leagues in the US. None of those picks were anything other than useless wastes of a good pick.

 

[Korpse]

Well, unless they are overagers out of high school leagues in the US. None of those picks were anything other than useless wastes of a good pick.

So...Joey Daccord?

 

[PatrickEaves]

So...Joey Daccord?

Todd Burgess, Shane Eiserman, Robbie Baillargeon

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Good for the kid. Always happy to see a southpaw in the stable.

But man, we really have a lot of netminders under contract now. Going to be difficult to find space to play them all.

 

[dumbdick]

Friendly reminder that this kid is part of the karl trade return (via Demelo)

 

[Ice-Tray]

Love seeing prospects out of the blue. Pulling for this guy.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

If there’s one thing the Sens do well, it’s drafting.

 

[Sting]

Kind of makes you wonder at this point if Ottawa WANTS Seattle to take Daccord. We simply have too many goaltenders now.

 

[Alfie11]

Kind of makes you wonder at this point if Ottawa WANTS Seattle to take Daccord. We simply have too many goaltenders now.

I think they can manage with some massaging. The other issue is Murray being healthy. I'm sure that's why Forsberg got the one year, one way deal. Insurance for Murray being hurt.

NHL guys:
Murray - Ottawa
Hogberg - Cut
Forsberg - Ottawa OR waivers OR loaned to another teams AHL squad.

AHL/Minors guys:
Gustavsson - AHL starter and yo-yo goalie unless he's the clear #1.Waivers exempt which is huge.
D'Accord - I think he's the backup to Murray in Ottawa or shares the crease with Forsberg. Not waivers exempt.
Sogaard - AHL
Mandolese - ECHL
Merolainen - Europe or CHL (does any CHL team own his rights?).

 

[Icelevel]

If there’s one thing the Sens do well, it’s drafting.

More specifically...if there’s one guy in the organization who knows what he’s doing, it’s Trent Mann (and his bro Troy).

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Kind of makes you wonder at this point if Ottawa WANTS Seattle to take Daccord. We simply have too many goaltenders now.

Goalies normally become consistent in the league at 25-28 on average, imo. So even with the plethora of goalies we have, they still are far, far from a sure thing. That's why Daccord and Gustavsson are gold cause we invested a long time in them and are showing very promising pro results at a later age.

 

[topshelf15]

So how how many goalies we have now 27??lol

 

[Sweatred]

So how how many goalies we have now 27??lol

I wonder if PD specifically targeted a Euro goalie who would likely develop overseas for a few years ?

 

[Cosmix]

This is a good signing with future potential. Hopefully he will develop well into an NHL calibre goaltender.

 

[Cosmix]

I wonder if PD specifically targeted a Euro goalie who would likely develop overseas for a few years ?

Interesting thought and thesis. We have Soogard and Merilainen. Perhaps it is a tendency rather than targeting European and college bound goaltenders.

 

[Cosmix]

Goalies normally become consistent in the league at 25-28 on average, imo. So even with the plethora of goalies we have, they still are far, far from a sure thing. That's why Daccord and Gustavsson are gold cause we invested a long time in them and are showing very promising pro results at a later age.

I do not recall ever seeing a study on goaltenders as to the age at which they become full-time NHL goaltenders, length of career, etc. Would be interesting to see such a study. Not to mention Defensemen, Centers and Wingers.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Picked up by Kingston in the CHL import draft, could play behind a strong team lead by Shane Wright.