The Ottawa Senators have signed Jake Sanderson, their star defenseman, to an eight-year, $64.4 million contract extension. The contract has an average annual value of $8.05 million and will run through the 2031-32 season. It also includes a 10-team no-trade clause list. Sanderson, who was selected as the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, had a successful rookie season, recording 32 points. He was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team and finished second in scoring among Senators defensemen. General manager Pierre Dorion praised Sanderson’s maturity and skills, stating that he has the potential to be one of the best defensemen in the NHL.
The Senators have been successful in developing their roster through the draft, with players like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, and Thomas Chabot becoming key players for the team. In addition to Sanderson, the team may prioritize re-signing Pinto, who is currently a restricted free agent. The Senators have also made significant acquisitions, including defenseman Jakob Chychrun, Claude Giroux, and Vladimir Tarasenko, to strengthen their roster.
Despite just missing the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference in the 2022-23 season, the Senators have a bright future with Sanderson and their talented young core.
