The Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche got together on a minor trade today as the Senators announced the team had sent the signing rights to goaltender Kevin Mandolese and a seventh-round pick in 2026 to the Avalanche in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2026. Colorado has also confirmed the trade.
Mandolese will join the second organization of his career after spending his entire professional life with the Senators organization after being selected by the team with the 157th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft. He’s mostly spent time as the backup for the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, as he’s earned a 28-28-5 record in the last four years in 66 games while posting a .896 save percentage and 3.30 goals against average.
He has fared slightly better in the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators and Allen Americans in limited action by posting a 6-7-1 record over the last three years in 15 contests while recording a .921 SV% and 2.77 GAA. Mandolese will likely end up with Colorado’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, and could even spend time with the Utah Grizzlies, the organization’s ECHL affiliate.
The native of Montreal, Quebec suited up in three games for the Senators during the 2022-23 NHL season and stopped 109 of 119 shots. Mandolese recorded two quality starts in his only NHL appearances and earned the only NHL win of his career after stopping 46 shots against the New York Islanders.