2025 Stats
W
1
L
1
SO
0
GAA
4.58
SV%
.833
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.
Beaten twice in win Monday
Merilainen stopped 26 of 28 shots in Monday's 7-2 win over the Bruins.
ANALYSIS
Merilainen was beaten at 3:06 of the first period, and then he was bested again with 10 seconds left in the final frame. However, Ottawa scored seven unanswered goals in between, meaning the 23-year-old was able to clinch his first win of the season. Merilainen is firmly entrenched as the backup behind Linus Ullmark, however, so he's not expected to carry a ton of fantasy upside any time soon. His value will probably be matchup-based until further notice.
Merilainen was beaten at 3:06 of the first period, and then he was bested again with 10 seconds left in the final frame. However, Ottawa scored seven unanswered goals in between, meaning the 23-year-old was able to clinch his first win of the season. Merilainen is firmly entrenched as the backup behind Linus Ullmark, however, so he's not expected to carry a ton of fantasy upside any time soon. His value will probably be matchup-based until further notice.
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2025–26 Time On Ice Stats
- Average Time On Ice: 59:03
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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
Set to face Bruins
Merilainen is expected to patrol the home crease against Boston on Monday, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia.
ANALYSIS
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Recalled from AHL
Merilainen was called up from AHL Belleville on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Loaned back to AHL
Merilainen has been loaned back to AHL Belleville, the Senators announced Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Trampled by Buffalo
Merilainen stopped 19 of 26 shots in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Sabres. Buffalo's final goal was scored into an empty net.
ANALYSIS
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Starting against Buffalo
Merilainen will draw the road start against Buffalo on Wednesday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
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.