As expected, Senators right-shot defenseman Lassi Thomson is heading overseas next season. He’s signed a two-year deal with the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League, keeping him in Europe through 2025-26.

Still only 23, Thomson spent his fourth straight season primarily suiting up for AHL Belleville in 2023-24. After earning call-ups in the prior two seasons, the 2019 first-round pick failed to do so this year and made all of his 67 appearances in the minors, recording six goals, 21 points and a -14 rating.

Ottawa briefly lost the rights to their pending restricted free agent during training camp when they waived him for assignment to Belleville. The Ducks claimed him off the wire on October 1, but after failing to make their opening night roster, he was waived again a week later and reclaimed by Ottawa, who opted to assign him directly to the B-Sens.

In 18 NHL appearances over the prior two seasons, Thomson didn’t make much of an impression with the Sens. He posted five assists, a -10 rating, and had 19 shots on goal while averaging 16:32 per game. The mobile two-way defender put up decent shot attempt numbers at even strength, posting a 51.3 CF% in advantageous usage, but struggled to control shot quality with a 46.4 xGF%, per Hockey Reference.