The two time OHL champion goaltender is getting a shot in the AHL with the Belleville Senators.

The Belleville Senators signed London Knight's goaltender Michael Simpson to a one-year, one-way contract for the 2024-25 season. 

In a week where the Ottawa Senators completed a huge trade to acquire Linus Ullmark, their AHL affiliated is also making moves to shore up their depth between the pipes.

Simpson's shot in the AHL is well deserved. He proved over the last three years that he is a reliable goaltender who can be counted on to make big saves when his team needs it.

Simpson played three years in the OHL recorded a .904 save percentage and a 2.99 goals against average.

The undrafted 21-year-old is fresh off of his second trip to the Memorial Cup in the span of two years. 

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He won his first trip to the Memorial Cup at the end of the 2022-23 season after winning an OHL Championship with the Peterborough Petes. 

The Petes were an underdog team who found their stride during the 2023 playoffs. A big part of their success can be attributed to Simpson's play. 

In 23 games, Simpson had a .918 save percentage and a 2.80 goals against average. During the run, the Petes fought through Ottawa, London and North Bay who all finished in the top four during the regular season. 

His second trip occurred this past season after he was traded from Peterborough to London. During the 2024 playoffs he had a record of 15-2 while recording a .908 save percentage and a 2.59 goals against average.  

While Simpson has great numbers in the OHL, he is slightly undersized given the current trends in the NHL. He will need to prove himself at the AHL level and climb the depth chart in Belleville. 

Given the Senators current contract situation in goal there may be room for Simpson to make an immediate impact. 

The contracts of both Mads Søgaard and Kevin Madolese expired this season leaving the team with only Leevi Meriläinen under contract for the upcoming season. 

It remains to be seen what other moves the team will make, however, if the current situation remains unchanged, Simpson would step into an immediate backup role behind Meriläinen.

Ottawa Senators and Belleville Senators fans alike should be excited about having a goaltender like Simpson in the system. If he makes strides in the AHL the way he did in the OHL then he may make his way to the NHL at some point in the future. 

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