2025 Stats
W
6
L
7
SO
0
GAA
3.34
SV%
.875
ROS Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Merilainen may be ready to ascend to the NHL as a full-time backup. In limited action last season, he posted an 8-3-1 record with a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage in 12 games, filling in as a short-term starter for much of January while Linus Ullmark dealt with a back injury. Merilainen is just entering his age-23 season, and that means he's still got time to develop. Those numbers, combined with his 18-12-4 record, 2.37 GAA and .913 save percentage over 37 games with AHL Belleville, indicate that Merilainen can handle 25-30 games at the NHL level. It's no guarantee he'll start 2025-26 in Ottawa, but he'll be in the mix for the backup job in training camp. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Senators in June of 2025.
Earns win over Winnipeg
Merilainen stopped 21 of 23 shots in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
Merilainen was beaten in the first and third periods, but the offense provided him enough support to cruise to an easy win. This was Merilainen's second straight victory, but even more importantly, he snapped a streak of seven outings in which he hadn't posted a save percentage of .900 or higher. Expect the 23-year-old to remain as the Senators' No. 1 goaltender as long as Linus Ullmark (personal) remains away from the team.
Merilainen was beaten in the first and third periods, but the offense provided him enough support to cruise to an easy win. This was Merilainen's second straight victory, but even more importantly, he snapped a streak of seven outings in which he hadn't posted a save percentage of .900 or higher. Expect the 23-year-old to remain as the Senators' No. 1 goaltender as long as Linus Ullmark (personal) remains away from the team.
NHL Stats
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2025–26 Time On Ice Stats
- Average Time On Ice: 56:37
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
Merilainen made his NHL debut late in the 2022-23 campaign, but he didn't make any appearances for the Senators last year despite a brief stint with Ottawa. He made a career-high 24 regular-season appearances for AHL Belleville last year and had mixed results, going 10-9-1 with a 2.87 GAA and .906 save percentage. The Senators traded Joonas Korpisalo to the Bruins over the summer but received Linus Ullmark in return, so Ullmark and Anton Forsberg should enter the 2024-25 season as the team's top two netminders. Despite Merilainen's inconsistency in the minors last season, he could be called up by the Senators if Ullmark or Forsberg deal with injuries at some point.
More Fantasy News
First off Saturday
Merilainen was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports, indicating he will patrol the home crease against Winnipeg on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Nabs fifth win
Merilainen stopped 26 shots in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Capitals.
ANALYSIS
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Set to start Thursday
Merilainen will start Thursday's home game against the Capitals, Graeme Nichols of The Hockey News reports.
ANALYSIS
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Jolted by Jackets
Merilainen turned aside 18 shots in Monday's 4-1 loss to Columbus.
ANALYSIS
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Facing Blue Jackets
Merilainen will patrol the home crease against Columbus on Monday, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Might be summoned
The Senators are considering recalling Merilainen from AHL Belleville, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Neither Linus Ullmark nor Anton Forsberg is dealing with a known injury, but Ottawa has secured its playoff berth, so adding Merilainen to the roster would enable the Senators to occasionally make Ullmark a healthy scratch so that he's rested for the postseason. It would also give the 22-year-old Merilainen, who has an 8-3-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .925 save percentage in 12 appearances with Ottawa this campaign, some added NHL experience.
Neither Linus Ullmark nor Anton Forsberg is dealing with a known injury, but Ottawa has secured its playoff berth, so adding Merilainen to the roster would enable the Senators to occasionally make Ullmark a healthy scratch so that he's rested for the postseason. It would also give the 22-year-old Merilainen, who has an 8-3-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .925 save percentage in 12 appearances with Ottawa this campaign, some added NHL experience.