2025 Stats
W
6
L
7
SO
0
GAA
3.49
SV%
.869
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.
Gets the hook Monday
Merilainen stopped five of the eight shots on net he saw in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Red Wings.
ANALYSIS
Merilainen struggled throughout the first period of Monday's contest, allowing three total goals, with one just 17 seconds away from the end of the period. He would ultimately be replaced by Hunter Shepard when the Senators came out for the second period. Merilainen now has a 6-7-0 record, a 3.49 GAA and an .869 save percentage through 14 appearances this season. After a strong rookie campaign, the second-year netminder has been inconsistent this year, making him and the rest of Ottawa's options in the crease tough to trust in fantasy. With Linus Ullmark (personal) on a leave of absence, Merilainen will likely continue to operate as the lead option unless he continues to struggle.
Merilainen struggled throughout the first period of Monday's contest, allowing three total goals, with one just 17 seconds away from the end of the period. He would ultimately be replaced by Hunter Shepard when the Senators came out for the second period. Merilainen now has a 6-7-0 record, a 3.49 GAA and an .869 save percentage through 14 appearances this season. After a strong rookie campaign, the second-year netminder has been inconsistent this year, making him and the rest of Ottawa's options in the crease tough to trust in fantasy. With Linus Ullmark (personal) on a leave of absence, Merilainen will likely continue to operate as the lead option unless he continues to struggle.
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: 54:00
Senators Depth Chart
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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
Defending home net
Merilainen will patrol the home crease Monday against the Red Wings, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia.
ANALYSIS
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Earns win over Winnipeg
Merilainen stopped 21 of 23 shots in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
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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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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Poised to start Monday
Merilainen is likely to get the starting nod at home versus the Red Wings on Monday, Claire Hanna of TSN reports.
ANALYSIS
Merilainen would be making his fifth straight appearance in the crease, having posted a 2-2-0 record with 11 goals allowed on 92 shots over his prior four outings. With Linus Ullmark still away from the team for personal reasons, the 23-year-old Merilainen figures to continue seeing the bulk of the workload ahead of Hunter Shepard.
Merilainen would be making his fifth straight appearance in the crease, having posted a 2-2-0 record with 11 goals allowed on 92 shots over his prior four outings. With Linus Ullmark still away from the team for personal reasons, the 23-year-old Merilainen figures to continue seeing the bulk of the workload ahead of Hunter Shepard.