Senators Need to Find a Roster Spot for Stephen Halliday Next Season

After 30 games with the Ottawa Senators, Stephen Halliday recently inked a two-year, $2.15 million contract extension with the club. A native of Ajax, Ontario, Halliday tallied 11 points (four goals, seven assists) with Ottawa after being a point-per-game player in 29 games with the Belleville Senators this season.

A slight pay raise from his $950,000 entry-level deal signals bigger things to come for the Sens’ fourth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft. Halliday’s size, youth and playmaking abilities make him valuable to the lineup, but what role will he have next season and playing on what line?

For him to further “craft” his game like president and general manager Steve Staios is hoping, the Senators must consider opening a permanent roster spot for the 23-year-old so he can grow into his own with a bigger role. 

USHL to NHL Journey

Though he is Ontario-born, Halliday chose not to play junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), instead developing in the United States Hockey League with the Central Illinois Flying Aces for one season and the Dubuque Fighting Saints for three others. 

In 215 USHL games, Halliday recorded as many points (68 goals and 147 assists), including a 35-goal, 95-point performance in 2021-22 that led to him being selected 104th overall by Ottawa. Halliday’s performance also earned him a Big-10 scholarship with Ohio State University, where he recorded 77 points in 78 games before signing an American Hockey League (AHL) deal with Belleville for the remaining 10 games of the 2023-24 season, tallying five assists in that stretch. 

After recording a combined 56 points in his first two AHL stints, Halliday got the call to join the Senators in Anaheim on Nov. 20, 2025, in place of injured Ridly Greig. Halliday, centring the fourth line with Nick Cousins and Hayden Hodgson, logged 5:28 of ice time while assisting on a Shane Pinto power-play goal for his first career point – a very impactful NHL debut overall. 

Shane Pinto has his 10th of the season (in just 20 games) and Stephen Halliday has his first NHL point. #GoSensGo tie the game at two heading into the third period. pic.twitter.com/O9u0Jkuhe1

— Andrew Wilimek (@AndrewWilimek) November 21, 2025

With his performance on the road and contributions offensively, Halliday was given many more chances at the 4C position moving forward before later netting his first career goal against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 22 – and the rest is history.

Playing Style & Abilities

With his 6-foot-4, 212-pound frame, Halliday is capable of protecting the puck while stripping it from his targets in a battle. At times, he can also be a solid playmaker using his deceptive game – not only stopping up, but faking passes, turns and fakes to create separation.

Halliday might not be the fastest skater in the world, but he uses that to his advantage by slowing down the play, delaying to draw his defenders in before slipping it through them or over their sticks. He doesn’t throw the body a whole lot – averaging 30 hits in as many games at the NHL level – but he is always around the net at the right time.

Besides, with the right line, Halliday won’t need to be the gritty type of power forward that the Sens are looking for. Instead, he is more of a playmaking power forward, using his size at both ends of the ice to take the puck away from opposing players and set up his options from just about anywhere.

Where Could He Play?

Halliday’s size and flexibility to play both centre and on the wing make him a viable top-nine option in the Senators’ lineup. His skillset can also be utilized on the power play and perhaps lead to some shifts in the top six. 

That said, Warren Foegle and Fabian Zetterlund – also under contract beyond this year – might take up some of those winger positions. This sets Halliday up for that fourth-line centre spot with those two on his wings, leaving the option to feed the bruising power forward and the two-way scorer. 

This is the most likely outcome for Halliday, given his salary and the choice of letting either Cousins or the current 4C, Lars Eller, walk away in free agency. But moving to such an important position on the team would only put more pressure on him to improve defensively. 

What about the third line? Pinto has already built a reputation as the centre for that line, so not only would Halliday be more flexible there as a winger, but Michael Amadio could stay on the right wing and pick things up defensively. Cousins could then stick around and centre the fourth line with Zetterlund and Foegle.

Aside from power-play or middle-six time, for Halliday to excel in his development, it is not just how much time he gets that is important, but who he plays with as well. The Senators have to figure this out if they want the best results from him next season.