Senators Know Exactly What They Are Looking To Add This Offseason
Near the top of that list, per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, is a reliable backup goaltender.
Staios intends to go shopping for one this summer.
James Reimer, who signed with Ottawa midway through the season after clearing a professional tryout with the Toronto Maple Leafs, is not expected back.
The 38-year-old veteran served his purpose as emergency depth after the Senators found themselves thin behind Linus Ullmark, but a long-term commitment to Reimer as a viable backup is not what the organization is looking for heading into another season where they believe they are a legitimate contender.
Garrioch also reported that Staios did not rule out the possibility of bringing Reimer back in a third-goalie capacity, which the Senators can now explore thanks to a rule change that eliminates the emergency backup provision the NHL had previously maintained.
The Ullmark Situation
Linus Ullmark remains the clear number one behind a team that has the forward talent to contend in the Atlantic Division.
His season was complicated by a mid-year leave of absence for personal reasons that began in late December, during which the Senators leaned heavily on Mads Sogaard and called up Hunter Shepard from Belleville.
"Get outta here" - Linus Ullmark 👊 pic.twitter.com/weIQCcFvKh
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 25, 2026
When Ullmark returned in January, he steadily rebuilt his form, and by the back half of the season he looked much closer to the goaltender who was among the best in the league during his Bruins peak.
He performed respectably in the playoff series against Carolina despite the sweep, which speaks more to how difficult the Hurricanes were to solve offensively than to any failures in net.
His $8.25 million cap hit has generated some trade speculation around the league, with rival executives taking notice of his late-season surge. Staios has not indicated any intention to move him.
The backup search assumes Ullmark stays.
What the Market Looks Like
The most frequently cited name in the Ottawa backup conversation is Laurent Brossoit, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Brossoit missed the entire 2024-25 season while under contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, then was dealt to the San Jose Sharks in January to give him a fresh start.
He posted a 12-8-1 record with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage for San Jose's AHL affiliate, which suggests he is healthy and functional following whatever kept him off the ice for a full season.
At 33 years old, Brossoit is an experienced backup who has been a capable secondary option in Vegas and Chicago before the injuries derailed his availability.
Linus Ullmark and Freddie Andersen were the MVPs of this series, absolutely insane level of goaltending from both pic.twitter.com/wOWEY7APpt
— ilya 🐻❄️ (@goalie_swiper) April 25, 2026
If his health holds and the price is reasonable, he fits the profile Staios is describing.
The broader UFA goaltender market also includes Frederik Andersen of Carolina, Petr Mrazek of Anaheim, Cam Talbot of Detroit, and Eric Comrie of Winnipeg, though most of those names are likely seeking starting or near-starting roles rather than backup contracts.
Younger options like Connor Ingram of Edmonton, Stuart Skinner of Pittsburgh, and Vitek Vanecek of Utah represent a different tier of the market that could also appeal to Staios depending on contract ask.
Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
