When the 2024-25 NHL season began, defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo wasn't exactly on the Ottawa Senators' NHL radar.
Last summer, Matinpalo signed a one-year, two-way contract with the club, suggesting they expected him to spend the bulk of the year again with the AHL's Belleville Senators.
But as they often do, a rash of injuries opened the door for Matinpalo, and he made the most of the opportunity. The 26-year-old played 41 regular-season games for the Senators this season, which is probably about 41 more than most observers expected. As a testament to how well he played this season, Matinpalo suited up in all six of Ottawa's playoff games this spring, even though more veteran options were both healthy and available.
Four days after the Senators' season ended, Matinpalo was rewarded with his first one-way NHL contract. GM Steve Staios announced on Monday that the team signed Matinpalo to a two-year deal with an $875,000 AAV through the 2026-2027 season.
The Espoo, Finland native started the season on waivers before reporting to Belleville, where he stayed until being recalled to Ottawa in December.
Matinpalo's whirlwind season included an opportunity to be an injury replacement for Team Finland at February's NHL 4 Nations Faceoff, which was far more intense and entertaining than anyone expected. He'll also be suiting up for his national team later this week as the World Championships begin in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday.
“Nik took a significant step this season and proved he could be a valuable contributor at the NHL level,” Staios said. “We look forward to his continued growth.”
It will be interesting to see exactly what that level of growth will look like. He'll be 27 when the next NHL season begins, so he may have peaked already. But some players are late bloomers, and the Sens are hoping his best is yet to come.
Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk At His Seasonal Farewell: 'We Want More'
On Saturday morning, with the echoes from Thursday's season-ending Game Six loss still rattling about in the rafters of Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was made available to the media for one final time this season. For Tkachuk, not being able to complete an epic comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs is still an open wound.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa