Ottawa Senators recall Stephen Halliday and Lassi Thomson ahead of seven-game road trip

The Ottawa Senators have bolstered their roster for the longest trip of the season, recalling forward Stephen Halliday and defenseman Lassi Thomson from the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League. The move comes as the team prepares for a grueling seven-game western swing that could define their early-season momentum.

With injuries to key players like captain Brady Tkachuk and top defenseman Thomas Chabot, the Senators are taking a cautious approach. Both recalled players traveled with the team, ensuring they can be inserted into the lineup immediately if needed. The trip opens Thursday at Anaheim’s Honda Center and winds through California, Las Vegas, the Central Division, and finally Montreal before Ottawa returns home on December 4 to host the New York Rangers.

Stephen Halliday’s path to a potential NHL debut

Stephen Halliday, a 6-foot-4, 212-pound center, is on the cusp of making his NHL debut. Selected in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2022 draft, Halliday spent three years at Ohio State University refining his two-way game before turning pro. Through 15 AHL contests this season he paces Belleville with one goal and 15 assists, showcasing the play-making vision that has coaches excited.

His most recent highlight came off the scoresheet: Halliday scored the shootout winner in Utica last weekend, capping a perfect three-win road trip for the B-Sens. That clutch moment underscored the poise the Senators believe he can bring to a bottom-six role on the big club. If he dresses in California, Halliday’s debut will mark the culmination of a steady, development-first trajectory that Ottawa has long advocated for its prospects.

Lassi Thomson returns to familiar territory

Unlike Halliday, Lassi Thomson has tasted NHL action before. The 25-year-old blueliner logged 18 games for Ottawa during the 2021-22 campaign, but his last appearance came in November 2022. After a season in Finland, Thomson re-signed with the Senators over the summer and has been rounding into form with Belleville, posting three goals and one assist in 15 games.

Thomson’s right-handed shot adds welcome depth to an injury-thinned blue line. While Artem Zub, Nick Jensen, Jordan Spence, and Nikolas Matinpalo hold down the right side, Thomson gives coach Travis Green a fifth option who can move the puck quickly and eat minutes in a pinch. His recall also buys time for Chabot to recover without forcing the team to overwork sophomore Jake Sanderson or sophomore Tyler Kleven on the left side.

What the recalls mean for the Senators’ road trip strategy

Ottawa’s seven-game odyssey offers little margin for error. Between plane hops and three games in four nights, fatigue and injuries compound quickly. Carrying two extra skaters allows Green to practice line rushes in morning skates and adjust on the fly if someone wakes up sore. The club learned this lesson last month when a last-minute recall from Belleville missed a connecting flight and arrived minutes before puck drop.

By having Halliday and Thomson on the plane from the start, the Senators gain flexibility:

• Halliday can slot in as 4C, pushing Ridly Greig to wing and adding size against heavy Pacific Division opponents.
• Thomson can be a seventh defenseman or swap in if Green wants a right-shot look on the second power-play unit.
• Both players gain invaluable exposure to NHL video sessions, travel routines, and game-day preparation, accelerating their development even if they don’t dress immediately.

The bigger picture: development and competitiveness in tandem

General manager Steve Staios has preached a “dual-track” philosophy since taking the reins: remain competitive while integrating young talent. These recalls exemplify that balance. Ottawa isn’t simply patching holes; it is auditioning future full-time contributors in real pressure environments. Every practice, every morning skate on this trip becomes a data point for decisions at the March trade deadline and beyond.

The organization’s revamped prospect pipeline has already paid dividends—see Jake Sanderson’s seamless top-pair transition—and Halliday could be next. His 1.07 points-per-game pace in the AHL ranks among the top ten rookie producers league-wide. Meanwhile, Thomson’s matured defensive game overseas addressed the consistency issues that once kept him out of the lineup. If either player seizes the moment, Ottawa gains cost-controlled depth crucial to a cap-strapped roster.

What it means for the standings and the locker room

The Senators sit three points out of an Eastern wild-card spot entering the trip. Stealing even six of a possible 14 would keep them within striking distance until key injured players return. Inside the room, the recalls send a message: production in Belleville is rewarded. Veterans notice when prospects arrive ready, and the internal competition raises everyone’s level.

Captain Tkachuk, already skating in a red non-contact jersey, praised the organization’s communication on the recalls. “You want guys who are hungry,” he told reporters before departure. “Hallsy and Lassi have been tearing it up down there. If they get the call, we’ll welcome them with open arms—and expect them to help us win.”

Looking ahead: could Halliday or Thomson stick beyond the trip?

History says yes. Last season, Zack Ostapchuk’s emergency recall turned into a 24-game audition that earned him a full-time roster spot this fall. If Halliday dazzles in limited minutes, the Senators could keep him even after Tkachuk returns, opting to carry 13 forwards and rotate healthy scratches. Thomson’s situation is cloudier—Chabot’s recovery timeline dictates roster math—but his waiver eligibility gives management flexibility to shuttle him back and forth without risk.

Ottawa’s next seven opponents average 3.42 goals per game, placing additional emphasis on defensive depth and secondary scoring. Whether they watch from the press box or draw in, Halliday and Thomson represent insurance against the unexpected—and a glimpse at the next wave pushing the Senators toward perennial contention.