It’s only mid-afternoon and the opening round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft takes place at 7 p.m. ET, but it’s already been a busy day for the Ottawa Senators.
It started with a morning Zoom call with newcomer William Eklund. Then the club announced a trio of signings, the third one being pending restricted free agent defenseman Jordan Spence. And a pair of trades, adding a backup goalie and a two-time Cup winning forward.
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William Eklund
William Eklund was enjoying his night attending a Pitbull concert when he received a call from San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier that he was being traded to Ottawa.
Eklund immediately left the concert and phoned his parents. His next call was to his close friend Senators’ Fabian Zetterlund who didn’t believe him at first.
The pair played together in San Jose for two-plus season and their families have spent holidays together.
On his view his new squad, Eklund noted, “The times I play them, they’ve been really hard to play against. Obviously, they’re a very well-rounded team, deep group, I heard really good things about them, a lot of good young guys is trying to do good things, so I’m just really excited to join that group and do as best I can.”
Senators head coach Travis Green reached out to the 23-year-old, though he preferred not to speak about their conversation, Eklund spoke of what it may be like if he played alongside Tim Stutzle.
“He’s been a great player in this league for a while now. So you know if you get that opportunity, you just do the best you can on it, and obviously he’s been doing really good things for this organization in this league for a while. So you know if you get that whoemver I play with, it’s going to be a fun journey,” said Eklund.
Eklund is also looking forward to playing in a Canadian market and while he likes his golf, being from Sweden he’s fine with Ottawa’s winter weather.
“I think hockey in Ottawa is a little bigger than it is in North Cal, if you can say that. Obviously, Canada is big in the sport, and it’s pretty cool to play in that place, because I heard great things about it, and great things about the fans. So that’s probably a little different from there.”
Eklund told Hockey Hot Stove he’s expecting to continue his offseason workout regimen in Sweden prior to shifting to Ottawa in likely late-August. Among his workout mates are Devils Jesper Bratt, Blues Phillip Broberg, Blackhawks Anton Frondell and William’s brother, Viktor who was selected 16th overall in the 2025 Draft by the Islanders.
Jordan Spence
A week ago Senators general manager Steve Staios said talks were ongoing with pending RFA d-man Jordan Spence. Monday morning the team announced the right-shot D inked a four-year contract carrying a $5 million average annual value.
There were rumblings Spence had been on the trade block with Staios possibly not wanting to spend $5M on a player who’s coming off one breakout season, his fifth in the NHL. But in the end, the Senators GM made the decision, Spence was their best option.
The 25-year-old was acquired on the second day of the 2025 Entry Draft from the Los Angeles Kings, while he had a rocky start to his career in Ottawa, he finished strong.
Spence was a healthy scratch for nine of the Senators first 14 games, before finally settling into the lineup.
Spence set highs in goals (7), points (31), time-on-ice (18:44) over a full season. Most of all due to injuries during the regular season to Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson, then in the playoffs with Sanderson again out and Tyler Kleven, Spence played a key role for the club and helped his team navigate a painful situation.
In a media release, Staios said, “Jordan was an excellent addition to our hockey club and proved to be a valuable asset on our blue line and stepped up when it counted last season. We’re excited to have him as part of our core group.”
Samuel Ersson
Seeking backup goalie help, the Senators made a move acquiring to the rights to pending RFA Samuel Ersson from the Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Ersson had been dealt by the Philadephia Flyers to Toronto just days ago in the Joseph Woll swap.
It’s hoped Ersson will return to his form fom 2023-24 when he played 51 games, posting a 23-19-7 record, 2.82 goals against average as the Flyers starter. Last season the 26-year old fell into a backup role behind Dan Vladar and never found his groove. The Swede played 33 games, a 14-11-5 record, 3.12 GAA, and a subpar .870 save percentage.
Ersson will likely challenge for the backup role with Leevi Merilainen who’s also seeking a new contract as a RFA.
Andre Burakovsky
In a surprise late afternoon move, the Senators sent a 2027 sixth-rounder to Chicago in exchange for vesatile forward Andre Burakovsky. Burakovsky who’s comfortable playing either wing, lands in Ottawa on the final year of his of contract which carries a $5.5M cap hit; one bonus being his actual salary remaining is $3.75M.
Born in Austria and a native of Sweden, the 31-year-old tallied 11 goals, 22 assists in 75 games last season with the Blackhawks.
A veteran of 864 games including playoffs, Burakovsky brings two Stanley Cup rings(Washington 2018), Colorado (2022).
Question is; where does the son of former Ottawa Senator, Robert who tolied for the club ’93-94 fit in the lineup?
Staios in a media release said, “Andre adds skill and playmaking ability to our forward group. We are happy to add a pedigree of a two-time Stanley Cup champion.”
Samuel Bolduc, Djibril Toure
Acquired by the Senators from the Kings at the AHL trade deadline in exchange for forward Jan Jenik, Samuel Bolduc was a pending Group 6 unrestricted free agent.
Bolduc went on to play 10 games with Belleville, registering one goal, nine assist and compiled 31 points for the season combined with the Ontario Reign.
The Laval native has an NHL experience playing 52 games over three seasons with the Islanders. Bolduc will earn $425,000 on his minors salary and $850,000 if he’s called up to Ottawa.
Signed by the Senators after a strong 2024 rookie camp, Djibril Toure remains a project. At 6’7″, 203 pounds, Toure adds a physical presence. In 74 AHL games over two seasons, the Montreal area resident recorded 176 penalty minutes.
Home › Forums › Sens Notes: Eklund Speaks, Spence Signs, Trades