It looks like the Senators might lose Samuel Ersson for nothing

This just in, the Ottawa Senators have elected to NOT qualify pending free agent Samuel Ersson, which means that he is eligible to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

As Senators insider Bruce Garrioch explains it though, the Senators are still hoping to negotiate a deal with Ersson before he his free agency and are simply looking to avoid an arbitration hearing with the Swedish goaltender.

From Garrioch:

Ersson was acquired by Sens GM Steve Staios from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 5th round pick earlier this offseason. The Leafs themselves had acquired Ersson just 10 days earlier in a salary cap trade with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Samuel Ersson's NHL career has been one of steady development and perseverance as he worked his way from a fifth-round draft pick into a regular NHL goaltender. Selected 143rd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Swedish netminder spent several seasons developing in his home country before signing an entry-level contract with Philadelphia in 2021.

After arriving in North America, Ersson faced an early setback when injuries, including groin surgery, limited his playing time with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League. However, he returned healthy and quickly re-established himself as one of the Flyers' top goaltending prospects.

Ersson made his NHL debut during the 2022-23 season and immediately impressed. He recorded six victories in his first seven NHL starts and earned his first career shutout against the Buffalo Sabres in January 2023. His strong play convinced the Flyers that he could be an important part of their future, leading the organization to sign him to a contract extension in the summer of 2023.

The 2023-24 season marked Ersson's first full NHL campaign. With Philadelphia unexpectedly remaining competitive for much of the year, he shouldered a significant workload and recorded four shutouts, tying one of the best rookie goaltending seasons in franchise history. His calm demeanor and technically sound style helped stabilize a team that was undergoing a rebuild.

While consistency has occasionally been an issue, Ersson has shown flashes of being a dependable NHL starter. By the mid-2020s he had established himself as a regular member of Philadelphia's goaltending rotation, compiling more than 100 NHL appearances and several memorable performances. His journey from a late-round draft pick in Sweden to a trusted NHL goaltender stands as a testament to his work ethic and development. Whether as a starter or part of a tandem, Ersson has proven he belongs at hockey's highest level and remains an intriguing goaltending talent entering the prime years of his career.