With his deal kicking in this fall, Halliday will join the AHL's Belleville Senators on an amateur tryout
The Ottawa Senators have booked a little Halliday time.
They've announced the signing of forward Stephen Halliday to a two-year, entry-level contract that won't start until next season. But after his second year at Ohio State, Halliday is leaving school to join the AHL's Belleville Senators on an amateur tryout.
Halliday is 21, listed at 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, and led the Buckeyes this season in assists (26) and points (36) while finishing second in goals (10).
GM Steve Staios gave his Steve-on-Steve evaluation in a news release this afternoon.
“Stephen showcases a good combination of size and skill which is going to be invaluable to him as he progresses in pro hockey,” said Staios. “As a playmaker who enjoyed success at the collegiate level, we’re pleased with his progress and that he’s made the decision to start his professional career with the Ottawa Senators’ organization.”
Halliday was a 2024 Hobey Baker Award nominee, of which there are many. Over his two seasons with the Buckeyes, Halliday had 77 points, close to a point per game pace in each season (19 goals, 58 assists) while adding 49 penalty minutes.
Drafted by the Senators as a 20 year old (104th overall in 2022), Halliday isn't the only intriguing Sens prospect on the Buckeyes' roster. 6-foot-5 Swedish defenceman Theo Wallberg had an impressive freshman season with 21 points in 38 games, but he's expected to return for at least one more year of school.