Merilainen was thrust into a key role this season with the Ottawa Senators, filling in for Linus Ullmark while the latter took some time away to address some mental health concerns. Unfortunately, for Merilainen, his stint as the Senators starter did not go the way he likely hoped, and his stock has fallen considerably across the NHL landscape as a result. After a standout 2024-25 campaign – eight wins, three shutouts, and a 1.99 GAA across 12 NHL appearances – the Finn has posted a 3.51 GAA and .860 save percentage across 20 NHL starts this year, a significant regression that has dampened his organizational standing heading into an RFA offseason.

The AHL numbers offer a degree of comfort – a 2.77 GAA and .909 save percentage across 19 Belleville appearances suggest the underlying ability remains. At 23, with a recent track record of performing at the NHL level, writing him off entirely would be premature. However, the decline is real, and it raises legitimate questions about whether his breakout campaign reflected genuine development or simply a hot stretch playing behind a team that can more than hold its own defensively.

Merilainen had a fantastic introduction to the NHL in 2024-2025, with a swing of 8-3-1 in which he had three shutouts, and a rate line of 1.99 GAA and .925 Sv%. He went back to Bellville after the Ottawa starters returned to health. He finished off the AHL year with an 11-10-2 record, and well outplayed his competition for the backup job in Ottawa for the upcoming season. He should be Linus Ullmark’s back up to start the season, and could push for more starts if he plays like he did last season.

Leevi Merilainen filled in extremely well for the Ottawa Senators after being called up in December, while starter Linus Ullmark dealt with a back injury. Merilainen posted an 8-3-1 record with three shutouts in that stretch for the Sens. Merilainen was a big factor in helping turn the Senators season around; in his 12 games up with the big club, he had a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage. In his five games since being sent back to Belleville, Merilainen has picked up where he left off with the Ottawa Senators. The shutout machine has a 3-1-1 record with two shutouts, 1.61 GAA, and a .942 save percentage in that span for Belleville. Merilainen’s hot play of late has the Finnish native leap-frogging Mads Sogaard in the Senators depth charts.

Merilainen was solid in the two games he participated in at the prospects tournament in Buffalo. He is calm in his crease and covers a lot of the net. He hopes to play at least 30-40 games with Bellevue in the AHL in 2023-24.