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The Ottawa Senators have traded for a goaltender and re-signed a defenceman hours before the start of the NHL draft.
The Senators said they sent a fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft to Toronto for goaltender Samuel Ersson.
Toronto had just acquired Ersson on June 17 from Philadelphia, where he spent four seasons. He was the heaviest-used goalie on the Flyers in 2023-24 and 2024-25 before ceding the crease to Dan Vladar last season.
Ersson, who turns 27 in October, put up an .870 save percentage and 3.12 goals-against average last season, both below his career average. He needs a new contract and will likely compete as a backup to fellow Swede Linus Ulmark.
The team also re-signed 25-year-old defenceman Jordan Spence to a four-year, $20-million contract extension.
Ottawa traded two draft picks to Los Angeles for Spence during last year’s NHL draft weekend.
His third full NHL season saw career bests in goals (seven) and points (31). He was playing top-four defensive minutes by the playoffs.
The Senators have picks 25 and 32 in the first round of Friday night’s NHL entry draft, where teams take the best unattached players who will be at least 18 years old by Sept. 15.
Pick 25 was part of the return for Ottawa trading longtime captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida on Sunday. The Senators already dealt the ninth pick for young San Jose forward William Eklund.
