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GM Staios Signs Ersson to 2-Year, $4.4 M Deal

7/2/2026

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Summary

Ersson Signs

GM Steve Staios signed goaltender Samuel Ersson to a two-year $4.4 million contract with a $2.2 million average annual value.
Ottawa acquired Ersson from Toronto for a 2027 fifth-round pick after Philadelphia traded him to Toronto on June 16.
Ersson posted a .934 save percentage at the IIHF World Championship, made 32 saves in Sweden’s 2-1 win over the United States at the 4-Nation Showdown, prompting Staios to say he fits Ottawa’s system.

Summary

Ersson Joins Ottawa

Sam Ersson signed a two-year, $2.2 million deal with Ottawa on July 1 2026 after the unrestricted free-agency window opened.
He entered the market as a restricted free agent because Ottawa declined a qualifying offer.
GM Steve Staios added William Eklund and extended Jordan Spence.
Ersson will back up Linus Ullmark, who rebounded after the 2025-26 playoffs, as Ottawa seeks to recover from a sweep by the Carolina Hurricanes.

History

Historical Context

After the owners locked out players on September 16 2004 and cancelled the 2004-05 season, commissioner Gary Bettman negotiated a July 2005 CBA that imposed a $39 million salary cap—54.8 % of league revenue—on all 30 clubs. The cap’s discipline still shapes roster building, as Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios signed goaltender Samuel Ersson to a two-year, $4.4 million deal in 2026.

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Ersson Signs

GM Steve Staios signed goaltender Samuel Ersson to a two-year $4.4 million contract with a $2.2 million average annual value.
Ottawa acquired Ersson from Toronto for a 2027 fifth-round pick after Philadelphia traded him to Toronto on June 16.
Ersson posted a .934 save percentage at the IIHF World Championship, made 32 saves in Sweden’s 2-1 win over the United States at the 4-Nation Showdown, prompting Staios to say he fits Ottawa’s system.

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