The Ottawa Senators' defensive depth may have just taken an unexpected hit, as 2019 first-round pick Lassi Thomson has decided to take his talents overseas. After making his long-awaited NHL playoff debut this spring, the 25-year-old defenseman has signed a two-year deal with HC Lugano in Switzerland's National League, marking his second departure from the Senators organization in three years.
Thomson's journey this season was a rollercoaster. With Ottawa's blue line decimated by injuries during their impressive playoff push, he answered the call, appearing in 11 regular-season games. When veteran defenseman Artem Zub went down in Game 1 of the playoffs, Thomson stepped in for Game 2, finally getting his first taste of postseason NHL action. It seemed like a breakthrough moment for a player who had been waiting for his chance.
But the timing never quite worked in Thomson's favor. He had previously spent the 2024-25 season with Malmo in the Swedish League before returning to Ottawa last summer, hoping to carve out a permanent role. However, the Senators traded for Jordan Spence, and Nick Jensen's recovery from injury further crowded the blue line. That left Thomson once again spending most of the season with Belleville in the AHL.
“Obviously, it is kind of frustrating seeing your teammates from Belleville are getting called up, and you're not getting that chance,” Thomson admitted last month. “But obviously, you have to try to think about it the other way and try to be positive. I will say, I just tried to enjoy the hockey. That was the biggest thing for me this year."
As a Group 6 unrestricted free agent this July 1st—a designation for players under 26 who haven't reached 80 NHL games—Thomson had options. Rumors of a return to Europe surfaced back in January, and even his late-season NHL action wasn't enough to change his mind. For a player who's still just 25, this move to Switzerland offers a fresh start and a chance to be a top-pairing defenseman in a competitive league.
It's a reminder that the path to the NHL isn't always linear. For Thomson, the next chapter will be written in Lugano, where he'll look to rediscover the form that made him a first-round pick—and perhaps set the stage for another NHL comeback down the road.