Senators: The Case for Tomasino

Recalled by the Senators from Belleville after Ottawa was short a pair of forwards in San Jose, Philip Tomasino is pleading his case on the ice to remain with the team.

Skating on a line with Shane Pinto and Drake Batherson, Tomasino has points in all three of games with the Senators. Having notched his first goal in his first game with the club, Tomasino registered assists in each of his past two games, including a primary helper in Buffalo.

Loaned to the Senators American League affiliate after an impressive preseason, the Mississauga resident was Belleville’s leading points leader (four goals, seven assists in 10 games) earning his recall.

Having been a hockey nomad the past two calendar years, Tomasino isn’t taking anything for granted.

“I think my mindset all year has kind of just been taking it day by day, whether I’m here or in Belleville,” Tomasino said Friday.

“So I think kind of for the message was just keep doing what you’re doing and do everything you can. And I feel like I started pretty well there. And obviously, getting a chance to be here now. it’s been a lot of fun. But like I said, just take it day by day, whether it’s now or it’s in the past. It’s kind of been in my mind.”

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Selected 24th overall by Nashville in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Ottawa is already Tomasino’s fourth NHL organization.

The forward was dealt by the Predators to Pittsburgh November 25, 2024. Then last New Year’s Eve, he became a Philadelphia Flyer or in Tomasino’s case, a Lehigh Valley Phantom after remaing in the American League with nary a recall after the trade.

This was despite posting respectable numbers in the AHL, 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 38 games.

Then mere weeks prior to his 25th birthday, Tomasino failed to receive a qualifying offer from the Flyers making him an unrestricted free agent.

Seeking to add forward depth to the organization, the Senators signed Tomasino to a one-year, two-way contract July 1 ($900,000 NHL, $600,000 AHL). The $600,000 AHL salary being the most doled out to any player to play for Belleville.

Having played 218 NHL games prior to this season, Tomasino has displayed glimpses of success, 11 goals, 21 assists in his 2021-22 rookie campaign with Nashville, 23 points in 50 games for the Penguins in 2024-25, bouts of inconsistency have plagued him.

But in his three appearances to date for Ottawa, Senators head coach Travis Green is satisfied by Tomasino’s play, telling Hockey Hot Stove, “He’s been a nice addition. Played three pretty good games. Guy that’s kind of been on the cusp of having a longer career, and he’s kind of got derailed a little bit the last few years.”

Green added, “I think you see that around the league where guys get another opportunity and they hopefully take advantage of it. But he’s got some skill in his game. He can skate. So far, he’s looked good.”

Relying on speed and transition is Tomasino’s strength, a key reason for choosing to ink his deal with Ottawa.

“I feel like we play obviously really fast. I feel like when I’m on my game, I feel like I’m playing best hockey. Yeah, that obviously ties into kind of the way we play and the way I want to play. So yeah, that definitely fits my m style. But listen, I’m grateful to to be a part of this group. This is an awesome group, and we obviously got a heck of a team here.”

When Injured Senators Warren Foegele and Andre Burakovsky return in three to four weeks it remains to be seen where Philip Tomasino will play.

But for the present, Tomasino knows he can still perform capably in the NHL.

“I feel like if you don’t have that belief in yourself, you probably don’t belong in this league. I think I’ve never really lost that. Regardless of where I’m playing, whether it’s the American League or the NHL, I’ve said before, i feel like I can contribute and play at this level.”

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