Ottawa Senators Sign Nikolas Matinpalo To Multi-Year Extension

Nikolas Matinpalo, Ottawa Senators defenseman

The Ottawa Senators got a bit of work done this afternoon as the team has signed Nikolas Matinpalo to a two-year contract extension with a cap hit of $875,000 AAV.

The #sens have signed Nikolas Matinpalo to a two-year extension carrying an $875,000 AAV.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 5, 2025

The 26-year-old Matinpalo stepped into the NHL this season to play 41 games for a team that really needed it after playing just four NHL games prior. He isn't that young, but he played solid enough to be re-upped for two more seasons.

Although Matinpalo played as many games as he did this season for the Senators, he averaged less than 13 minutes per game. I can see Ottawa going out and adding a free agent defenseman to slot into the third pairing and push Matinpalo down to become the seventh. Carter Yakemchuk is also closing in on being an NHL option as well.

It is a good move by the Senators to keep certain pieces that did their job around as the team tries to come back stronger than this season and push deeper into the playoffs. Matinpalo can still turn into an everyday NHLer who shuts opponents down, but the opportunity has to be there with the Senators the next two seasons or it'll be much tougher for him to showcase it.