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Ottawa Senators Sign Norwegian Forward Eskild Bakke Olsen to One-Year Entry-Level Contract
On Monday, the Ottawa Senators announced that they have signed Norwegian forward Eskild Bakke Olsen to a one‑year, entry‑level contract. The 24‑year‑old center, who spent the 2025‑26 season with Linköping HC in Sweden’s top league, will join the Senators’ roster for the 2026‑27 NHL season.
The contract, which carries a salary of $910,000 and a matching cap hit, is a standard entry‑level deal under the current collective bargaining agreement. It will expire at the end of the 2026‑27 season, making Olsen a restricted free agent in 2027. The signing is part of the Senators’ early‑offseason roster building, as the club looks to add depth to its forward group ahead of the upcoming season.
The move was announced by general manager Steve Staios. Olsen has never been selected in the NHL draft and is expected to begin the season with Ottawa’s American‑hockey‑league affiliate, the Belleville Senators, where he can continue to develop against professional competition.
Olsen’s background includes a season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Linköping HC. In the 2025‑26 season, he appeared in 42 games for Linköping, recording 8 goals and 12 assists for 20 points.
The Senators’ roster for the 2026‑27 season will include a mix of veterans and prospects. The club has secured several key players in free‑agency and trade deals, including a veteran forward and a top prospect from their draft class. Adding Olsen provides the team with an additional center who can contribute on the power play and in penalty‑kill situations.
Under the NHL’s entry‑level contract rules, the salary and bonus structure is capped at $925,000 for a one‑year deal. The contract’s cap hit of $910,000 is within the league’s salary‑cap ceiling, which is set at $95.5 million for the 2025‑26 season and will rise to $104 million in 2026‑27. The Senators’ salary‑cap space allows for further signings and potential trades as the offseason progresses.
The signing comes at a time when the NHL has seen several teams sign undrafted players from the SHL, Kontinental Hockey League, and other European leagues in recent years. The Senators’ decision to bring in a Norwegian forward aligns with a broader trend of clubs seeking to diversify their talent pool and add depth to their rosters.
Olsen’s arrival also coincides with the Norwegian national team’s recent success. Norway earned its first World Championship medal—a bronze—in 2026, signaling growth in the country’s hockey program. While Olsen has not yet represented Norway at the international level, his development in the SHL and now in North America positions him as a potential future contributor to the national team.
The Senators’ coaching staff will evaluate Olsen during the preseason and training camp. Head coach Pierre Dumont has emphasized the importance of depth and versatility in the forward group.
In summary, the Ottawa Senators have added a 24‑year‑old Norwegian forward to their organization with a one‑year entry‑level contract. The signing reflects the club’s strategy to build depth and integrate European talent into its roster. Olsen will begin the 2026‑27 season with the Senators’ AHL affiliate, with the potential to earn a spot on the NHL roster as the season unfolds. The organization will monitor his progress during training camp and the preseason, and the contract’s expiration will make him a restricted free agent in 2027.
The contract, which carries a salary of $910,000 and a matching cap hit, is a standard entry‑level deal under the current collective bargaining agreement. It will expire at the end of the 2026‑27 season, making Olsen a restricted free agent in 2027. The signing is part of the Senators’ early‑offseason roster building, as the club looks to add depth to its forward group ahead of the upcoming season.
The move was announced by general manager Steve Staios. Olsen has never been selected in the NHL draft and is expected to begin the season with Ottawa’s American‑hockey‑league affiliate, the Belleville Senators, where he can continue to develop against professional competition.
Olsen’s background includes a season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Linköping HC. In the 2025‑26 season, he appeared in 42 games for Linköping, recording 8 goals and 12 assists for 20 points.
The Senators’ roster for the 2026‑27 season will include a mix of veterans and prospects. The club has secured several key players in free‑agency and trade deals, including a veteran forward and a top prospect from their draft class. Adding Olsen provides the team with an additional center who can contribute on the power play and in penalty‑kill situations.
Under the NHL’s entry‑level contract rules, the salary and bonus structure is capped at $925,000 for a one‑year deal. The contract’s cap hit of $910,000 is within the league’s salary‑cap ceiling, which is set at $95.5 million for the 2025‑26 season and will rise to $104 million in 2026‑27. The Senators’ salary‑cap space allows for further signings and potential trades as the offseason progresses.
The signing comes at a time when the NHL has seen several teams sign undrafted players from the SHL, Kontinental Hockey League, and other European leagues in recent years. The Senators’ decision to bring in a Norwegian forward aligns with a broader trend of clubs seeking to diversify their talent pool and add depth to their rosters.
Olsen’s arrival also coincides with the Norwegian national team’s recent success. Norway earned its first World Championship medal—a bronze—in 2026, signaling growth in the country’s hockey program. While Olsen has not yet represented Norway at the international level, his development in the SHL and now in North America positions him as a potential future contributor to the national team.
The Senators’ coaching staff will evaluate Olsen during the preseason and training camp. Head coach Pierre Dumont has emphasized the importance of depth and versatility in the forward group.
In summary, the Ottawa Senators have added a 24‑year‑old Norwegian forward to their organization with a one‑year entry‑level contract. The signing reflects the club’s strategy to build depth and integrate European talent into its roster. Olsen will begin the 2026‑27 season with the Senators’ AHL affiliate, with the potential to earn a spot on the NHL roster as the season unfolds. The organization will monitor his progress during training camp and the preseason, and the contract’s expiration will make him a restricted free agent in 2027.
