Senators Sign Calen Addison and Nikolay Kulemin to PTOs

Yesterday, the Ottawa Senators announced the signing of two players to Professional Tryouts (PTOs) for their upcoming training camp: Defenseman Calen Addison and forward Nikolay Kulemin. What can Senators fans expect from these two players? Let’s take a look. 

READ MORE: Senators Goal Predictions for 2024-25

Calen Addison

Calen Addison, a defenseman, shoot right. The 24 year old stands at 5-foot-11, 172 pounds. Last season, he played 12 games with the Minnesota Wild, scoring 5 assists in 12 games while averaging just under 17 minutes of ice time per game. After a November trade, Addison spent the rest of the season with the San Jose Sharks. In 60 games, he scored one goal and 12 points while playing 17:21 per game. Just over two of those minutes per game were spent on the power play. 

Addison is not overly physical and lacks size. He has 81 hits in 152 career games. His ice-time at the NHL level has come at either even strength, or on the power play. He is not asked to try to shut down the opponents top lines. Addison is able to win with his offensive abilities. That dates back to his years in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He was right around a point per game with the Hurricanes for three straight seasons. While on Team Canada’s World Junior Team in 2020, where he scored nine points in seven games and helped Canada win the Gold Medal.

He was a productive AHL player, scoring 13 goals and 58 points in 77 games. In 2022-23, he became a full-time NHL player. In 62 games with the Wild, he scored three goals and 29 points. He played just over 16 minutes per game. Three and a half minutes per game and 18 of those points were on the power play. 

Potential Role With the Senators

The bad news for Addison is that the Senators have Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot taking on the offensive minutes for Ottawa’s defensemen. The good news is that on the right side, the Senators do not have a lot in the way of offensive defensemen. Right now, Zub and Jensen are penciled into their top four. They have Jacob Bernard-Docker and Travis Hamonic as their sixth and seventh defensemen. They are both defensive minded. If the Senators feel they need another puck moving defenseman, Addison has an opportunity to earn a contract.

That will be difficult, though. Steve Staios has already moved on from undersized defenseman Erik Brannstrom in the offseason. He has prioritized players with more two way ability with physicality to their games. That matches well with how Travis Green is expected to coach this team. Addison will have an uphill battle, but with his puck skills and at just 24 years old, this is a smart move by the Senators. 

Nikolay Kulemin

Kulemin is a 38 year old left wing, listed at 6-foot, 216 pounds. He has spent the last six seasons in the KHL. Last season, he scored 13 goals and 25 points in 46 games for Ufa Salavat Yulayev. That ranked him tied for sixth on the team in points, and fifth in goals. 

Prior to his time in Russia, Kulemin played several seasons in the NHL. His first six seasons were with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his last four were with the New York Islanders. His best season statistically was 2010-11, when he scored 30 goals and 57 points with the Leafs. To put it in perspective how long ago that was, the Leafs leading two scorers that season were Phil Kessel and Clarke MacArthur. 

Potential Role With the Senators

Having been out of the NHL for so long, and closing in on 40 years old, Kulemin isn’t exactly who Senators fans expected to see come to Ottawa on a PTO. It’s hard to envision him earning a roster spot with the Senators. He does have a pedigree as a forward that can kill penalties and chip in offensively. Even still, the odds are against him here. Kulemin coming to camp and push the other fourth line candidates to be their best selves would be considered a win for the Senators.