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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
12 Former Ottawa Senators On The Move In Europe This Offseason
The Ottawa Senators have seen a lot of players come and go during their rebuild. Some of them have not only turned the page on their Ottawa days, they've probably closed the book completely on the NHL. 12 ex-Senators have moved to new teams in Europe this summer — either arriving from North America through free agency, or via trades and transfers. From once-promising prospects to organizational depth guys, these former Senators are looking to revive or extend their careers in leagues ranging from Switzerland to Slovakia, and Russia to Germany. Here's a breakdown of who's gone where: Goalies Chris Driedger A third-round pick by Ottawa in 2012 (76th overall), Driedger never found his footing in the nation's capital, playing just one game in each of three consecutive seasons. He later found brief success with the Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken. This summer, he signed with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. Dylan Ferguson Ferguson played only two NHL games for the Senators during the chaotic 2022–23 season, when the team used seven different goalies. He's now signed with HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga. Defensemen Erik Brännström Still just 25 years old, Brännström was once seen as the crown jewel of the Mark Stone trade. He never met those expectations in Ottawa and wasn't re-signed last summer. He'll look to reset his career with Lausanne HC in the Swiss National League. Max Lajoie A 2016 fifth-rounder, Lajoie got a strong early look in 2018, right after the rebuild began, appearing in 56 NHL games for the Sens that season. However, over the next six seasons, he totalled just 21 NHL games. This year, he'll try his luck with Avangard Omsk in the KHL. Dillon Heatherington The former captain of the Belleville Senators (AHL), Heatherington logged 165 AHL games and 12 NHL games with Ottawa. He's moving to the DEL in Germany, signing with Red Bull Munich. Philip Roos A steady contributor for Belleville (68 games last season), Roos never cracked the NHL lineup in Ottawa. He previously played 21 games for Chicago before joining the Sens organization. Roos has now signed with Färjestad BK in Sweden. Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk Adds To His Father's Comments About The Future After a season where wild rumours began to swirl around Brady Tkachuk's future in Ottawa, both Tkachuk and his father, Keith, set the record straight this week. Forwards Chris Tierney The most experienced name on this list, Tierney played four full seasons in Ottawa and has logged 649 NHL games. After bouncing between Florida, Montreal, and New Jersey, he spent last season with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL. He's heading to Switzerland to join HC Ambrì-Piotta, the same club Alex Formenton played two seasons for. Jayce Hawryluk Hawryluk had 7 points in 11 games for Ottawa so he was here for a good time, not a long time. In recent seasons, he's toured Europe, playing in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland. He'll return to Slovakia to play for HKM Zvolen this fall. Dominik Kubalík Acquired in the Alex DeBrincat trade, Kubalík posted just 15 points in 74 games for Ottawa. However, he rediscovered his scoring touch last year with 49 points in 52 games for HC Ambrì-Piotta. This season, he'll play for EV Zug in Switzerland. Egor Sokolov A fan-favourite in Belleville, Sokolov appeared in only 13 NHL games over five years. After being traded to Arizona and playing in AHL Tucson last season, he returned to Russia this summer and signed with CSKA Moscow. After thinking for a couple of days that he'd found a place where he belongs, they promptly traded him to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Jack Rodewald A KHL regular over the past three seasons, Rodewald has suited up for Kunlun Red Star, Traktor Chelyabinsk, and Admiral Vladivostok. He posted 29 points last season and will remain in Russia now with Salavat Yulayev Ufa. André Petersson A 2008 fourth-round pick who played just one NHL game for Ottawa, Petersson has been playing in Europe since 2015. After three years back home in Sweden, he's now heading to the SCL Tigers in Switzerland. While none of these players were ever what you'd describe as elite players in Ottawa's organization, it's great to see this group getting fresh starts and continuing to forge out a career in the game they love. We should all be so lucky. Read the full list of former NHL players on the move in Europe at The Hockey News' International site. By Steve Warne @SteveWarneMediaThe Hockey News - Ottawa More Sens Headlines:Senators Reach Agreement To Buy Land For New NHL Arena At LeBretonFormer Senator Mark Borowiecki Now 'Looks At Fighting From A Different Lens'Keith Tkachuk On Brady's Future In Ottawa: 'I Don't Think He's Going Anywhere'Next NHL Expansion Fee May Be 40 Times More Than The Ottawa Senators PaidThe Senators' 2025-26 Lineup Is Probably Already SetMark Stone Jokes That It Wasn't Always Easy Playing On Brady Tkachuk's Line
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flashback Friday: Where Are They Now? Chris Dredger
Goaltender Chris Driedger was claimed by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft after a breakout season with the Florida Panthers. He was quickly relegated to the role of backup to Philipp Grubauer. After a string of injuries in his first season with Seattle, Driedger tore his ACL while competing in the IIHF World Championship for Team Canada. He missed the majority of the 2022-23 season due to his injury, returning to the ice with the Coachella Valley Firebirds on February 27, 2023. He spent the rest of the season rehabbing in the AHL. The 2023-24 season was the final year of Driedger's contract with Seattle, and he found himself back in Coachella Valley as the primary goaltender while Joey Daccord made the move to the Kraken to fill the backup position. When Philipp Grubauer was injured early in the season, Driedger returned to the NHL to fill in. In his first NHL game since the 2021-22 season, December 27th, 2023, he posted a 37-save win over the Calgary Flames. When Grubauer returned from injury, Chris Driedger found himself back in Coachella Valley where he finished out the season. The team made their way to the Calder Cup final where they lost to the Hershey Bears. In 2024, Driedger made his way back to Florida and joined the Panthers. He spent the majority of the season with their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets on March 6, 2025. The move to his hometown did not include a move to the NHL, however; Driedger once again found himself in the AHL playing with the Jets' affiliate Manitoba Moose. The 31-year old made a big change at the end of the 2024-25 season. Chris Driedger has signed with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. Featured Image: Sergei Belsky | Imagn Title Image: Jerome Miron | Imagn Related: Flashback Friday: Where Are They Now? Will Borgen Picked up from the Buffalo Sabers in the 2021 Expansion Draft, Will Borgen was part of the first Seattle Kraken roster. While he did not see much playing time in the 2021-22 season, his showing in the playoffs in 2022-23 earned him a place in the Kraken's second defensive pair with Jamie Oleksiak for the 2023-24 season. With the signing of Brandon Montour, Borgen found himself with fewer minutes in the third defensive pairing once again.
Global News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Winnipeg's Chris Driedger headed to KHL after short stint with hometown Jets
Another Winnipeg Jets player is headed across the pond to continue their hockey career. Russia's Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League announced the signing of Jets goalie Chris Driedger to a one-year contract. The Winnipeg product was set to become an unrestricted free agent next month after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Florida Panthers for fellow netminder Kaapo Kahkonen. The 31-year-old Driedger just completed a one-year contract for $795,000. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Driedger did not appear in a single game for the Jets, but served as their emergency third stringer during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He played five games for the AHL's Manitoba Moose before joining the Jets at the conclusion of the Moose season. Driedger has played 12 pro seasons, but he's only appeared in two NHL games since the end of the 2021-2022 campaign. He's also played for the Ottawa Senators and Seattle Kraken at the NHL level. Story continues below advertisement Rasmus Kupari (Switzerland) and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (Sweden) have also signed with teams overseas since the Jets were knocked out of the playoffs.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Manitoba Moose Goaltender Chris Driedger Signs One-Year Deal With KHL's Traktor Chelyabinsk
Manitoba Moose goaltender Chris Driedger has signed a one-year contract with the KHL's Traktor Chelyabinsk, the team announced. Driedger had a record of 11-9-6, a .875 SP, and 3.13 GAA in 20 appearances with the Charlotte Checkers and five appearances with the Manitoba Moose this season. He was dealt to Manitoba at the NHL's trade deadline in exchange for Kaapo Kahkonen. Advertisement In 217 career AHL appearances over 10 season Driedger had a record of 106-78-19 with a .910 SP and 2.74 GAA. A third round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2012, Driedger has a 31-24-5 record, .917 SP, and 2.45 GAA in 67 career NHL appearances with the Senators, Florida Panthers, and Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old backstopped the Coachella Valley Firebirds to the 2024 Calder Cup Finals, was an AHL All-Star in 2019-20, and led the league in save percentage (.924) in 2018-19. He appeared in six games and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2022 World Championship. Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. Photo Credit: © Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
