By Canadian Press

Senators, star defenceman Thomas Chabot agree to eight-year contract extension

Sep 19, 2019 | 10:12 AM

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have locked up another member of their young core.

The team announced Thursday it has agreed to an eight-year, US$64-million contract extension with star defenceman Thomas Chabot.

The slick 22-year-old has 23 goals and 80 points in 134 career NHL games.

Selected 18th overall in the 2015 NHL draft, Chabot had 14 goals and 55 points in his first full NHL season in 2018-19.

“Thomas is an exceptional talent and an outstanding teammate, who is impactful both on and off the ice,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. “He is the type of player that can develop into a core member of a championship-level team.” 

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The signing is a statement for a franchise that saw three of its best players — Erik Karlsson, Mark Stone and Matt Duchene — traded away in the last 12 months. The three were unable to come to terms on new contracts in the nation’s capital.

Chabot, who has one year left on his entry-level deal, will earn $7 million in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, $4 million in 2022-23, $8 million in 2023-24, $10 million in 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27, and $8 million in 2027-28. 

The rebuilding Senators, who bought four seasons of Chabot’s potential unrestricted free agency window with the deal, also signed centre Colin White to a six-year, $28.5-million extension last month.

Ottawa finished last in the NHL in 2018-19, and is expected to wind up in a similar position this season.

Despite those prognostications, Chabot said at NHL/NHLPA media tour last month in Chicago that he’s looking forward to getting going.

“It’s going to be a fun year,” said the native of Saint-Marie, Que. “Everybody’s really excited.

“There’s a lot of young talent coming.”

At the time, Chabot didn’t tip his hand about where negotiations on a contract extension stood.

“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I’m sure my agents will keep me in the loop and let me know what happens. But I’ll leave that up to them and focus on what I can control right now.”

Chabot was also asked if all the restricted free agents in limbo this summer and training camp made him think twice about his status.

“Everybody’s in different situations, right? It’s all different teams. We all have different stories,” said Chabot, who could have become an RFA next summer. “Any hockey player will tell you that getting something and some security would be the best thing.

“My agents are taking care of that, and I’ll be made aware of it, I’m pretty sure, if something comes up.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2019.

The Canadian Press